Press Release

Gate Gourmet Urges Former Staff to 'Sign Up or Lose Out' on Compensation Payments

Heathrow, Saturday, December 10, 2005 - Eric Born, managing director of Gate Gourmet UK and Ireland, today urged the remaining former workers due to sign compromise agreements with the company, to sign up or lose out on the chance for a compensation payment.

In November Gate Gourmet voluntarily extended the deadline for signing up to these compromise agreements to 16th December 2005. There is now just one week for the remaining staff to sign the compromise agreements. There will be no further extension beyond this date.

137 former Gate Gourmet workers have so far signed compromise agreements. As a result, 45 have already or will shortly receive compensation payments. Other payments will be made in due course. Others have been offered re-engagement with the company.

All the workers were dismissed for participating in the illegal wildcat strike in August 2005. The company is not required by law to make any compensation payments or to offer to re-engage former employees and is doing so voluntarily. Gate Gourmet can only make these offers once compromise agreements have been signed by former staff.

Eric Born, Managing Director of Gate Gourmet UK & Ireland, said:

"Like so many families affected by the events of August 2005, I want to see full and final closure. But I don't want any family to lose out on a compensation payment which Gate Gourmet is voluntarily prepared to offer them."

"To get the compensation payment it is necessary to sign the compromise agreement. I don't want anyone to face hardship unnecessarily, especially at this time of year, and so with one week to go, I say to our former staff sign up, don't lose out."

Notes to Editors

The 16th December deadline was agreed with the TGWU. It applies to the vast majority of former Gate Gourmet employees. There is a small group of staff who were dismissed later for whom the deadline will be individual and will go into the New Year.

Founded in 1992, Gate Gourmet is the world's largest independent airline catering, hospitality and logistics company with dual headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland, and Reston, VA, USA. The company has substantially expanded its products and services recently through acquisitions and strategic investments. The portfolio now includes cabin service ware (deSter); comfort/entertainment items (Harmony); packaged food components assembled in central production units (Supplair); design and delivery of brand-linked customer environments (Performa); service staff recruitment and training and crew leasing (Elan); aviation services such as cabin cleaning, aircraft washing and deicing and passenger services (Fernley/IAS); catering security (Gate Safe); business applications (eGate Solutions); and supply chain optimization (partnership with Pourshins).