Comair cancels flights in anticipation of strike

ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) -- Comair canceled approximately 10 flights Thursday in advance of a potential strike by its pilots' union and a spokeswoman predicted more would be canceled Friday.

If a strike is called Monday, the airline will cancel all flights, the company said in a statement.

Pilots for the nation's second-largest commuter airline have threatened to walk off the job Monday if they can't agree on a new contract with Comair.

Comair operates 323 daily flights to 95 cities out of its Cincinnati hub.

Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines, where 10,000 Delta pilots are poised to strike later this spring, could also be affected, since Comair is a feeder for Delta.

PLAN AHEAD Comair is urging passengers to check the status of their flights before arriving at the airport, by doing one of the following: Call Comair reservations at 1-800-354-9822 Go to www.comair.com   MESSAGE BOARD Are you worried about the potential airline strikes?

Nick Miller, Comair spokesman, said a contract offer that was rejected would have made Comair's pilots the best paid among regional airlines.

He said the company offered pay increases of up to 43 percent over several years, enhanced 401k retirement benefits, better work rules and more job security. Miller said a regional jet captain making an average of $70,000 a year could make $100,000 by 2004.

The union wants its regional pilots to be compensated on the same scale as major airline pilots. The union's stance is that an airline pilot should earn the same income whether flying for a regional airline or a national one. The dispute is being closely watched by the industry.

Bush not expected to intervene

Talks began in June 1998 between Comair and its 1,400 pilots. Mediation was unsuccessful through 1999 and 2000. Talks are scheduled to take place Friday and over the weekend; a 30-day cooling-off period ends at midnight Sunday.

If no agreement is reached by then, the two sides could agree to extend the deadline of the "cooling-off" period and continue negotiations or the pilots' union could choose to call for a strike. President Bush could also convene an emergency board, a move that would block a strike.

Though Bush intervened in the Northwest mechanics dispute, Comair officials predicted he would not do so in this one.

Comair is second only to American Eagle among commuter airlines. In 1993, it became the first commuter service to use jets. The airline operates 110 small jets and eight prop planes. Comair has almost 5,500 employees.

Northwest mechanics protest outside White House
March 12, 2001
Bush takes action to block Northwest strike
March 9, 2001
How threatened strikes could affect flight plans
March 7, 2001

Comair
Air Line Pilots Association
Delta Air Lines

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