Pilots' strike grounds Comair flights

Comair pilots picketed early Monday in Cincinnati, Ohio

In this story: Pilots want more money Rebooking on other airlines RELATED STORIES, SITES

COVINGTON, Kentucky (CNN) -- Comair canceled all flights through midnight after its 1,400 pilots went on strike early Monday.

"Comair pilots have withdrawn their services. We are currently on strike," said Capt. Max Roberts, spokesman for the Air Line Pilots Association.

FLIGHT ADVICE: Comair suggests passengers take several steps to minimize disruption of travel: Check the status of your flight before arriving at the airport. Call Comair reservations at 1-800-354-9822 or visit www.comair.com. Make sure your travel reservation includes telephone contacts both at departure and arrival cities, as well as your cell phone number if possible. Convert your E-ticket to paper through your travel agent, at a Delta city ticket office or any other Delta ticketing location. If your flight is canceled, go directly to Delta, Delta Shuttle, Delta Express or other Delta Connection carriers for re-accommodation.   REACTION Click for news releases from Comair and the Air Line Pilots Association     RELATED STORY More labor pains for Delta as Comair pilots walk out     MESSAGE BOARD Share your thoughts on the strike

A Comair spokesman said the company will make a decision sometime Monday on whether to cancel Tuesday flights.

The White House said that unless and until the National Mediation Board determines a strike by Comair pilots would cause significant harm to a region of the country, President Bush cannot step in under federal law to prevent a work stoppage.

"The president's hands are tied," Ari Fleischer, White House press secretary, said Sunday.

Comair and its 1,400 pilots have been negotiating a new contract for the past three years. The pilots blamed Comair, the nation's second largest regional commuter airline, for ending the talks.

"They have been ignoring us for three years and now they've abandoned us. We're terribly disappointed," said Paul Lackie, a spokesman for the pilots.

Pilots want more money

Comair, a feeder airline for Delta, denied that and says it's ready to go back to the bargaining table. Comair President Randy Rademacher said on CNN he believes the airline has offered the pilots a good contract.

"The company has put forward a proposal that would pay our pilots more money to fly regional airplanes, to fly 50-seat equipment, than anyone else in the country," he said. "And we were very hopeful that a proposal like that would be able to move us toward an agreement."

Comair officials said they offered raises ranging from 36 percent to 142 percent over the term of the offer, as well as more days off per month. For example, pilots' starting pay would go from less than $15,000 a year to around $18,000, a figure the union says still is far less than what its pilots deserve.

"Certainly we feel that international jet pilots are worth earning more than $18,000 a year," Lackie said, adding that he is confident the company can afford to pay more.

Rebooking on other airlines

Comair, a Delta Air Lines subsidiary with a hub at Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky International Airport, operates more than 800 daily flights to 95 cities in the United States, Canada, the Bahamas and Mexico.

The company urged passengers to check the status of their flight before arriving at the airport, by calling Comair reservations or visiting the airline's Web site.

It said Delta reservations will also help passengers. Comair canceled 100 flights Sunday, but said it was able to re-book 85 percent of passengers on other airlines.

The Ole Miss women's softball team was among those that lucked out Sunday night, getting Comair's last flight to nearby Memphis, Tennessee.

"We have to get back because we have school and we really can't get stranded," said Amanda Lehotak, a student and Comair passenger. "So we feel very lucky."

CNN's Patty Davis contributed to this report.

Comair pilots go out on strike
March 26, 2001
Comair to announce Sunday if flights will be canceled
March 24, 2001
Comair cancels flights in anticipation of strike
March 22, 2001

Comair
Air Line Pilots Association
Delta Air Lines

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