Airline, Union Keep Details To Themselves

It's a deal -- maybe. Approximately 1,500 Pilots at low-cost carrier AirTran Airways may soon have a new contract, if they approve the tentative agreement reached Monday between negotiators with the airline and the National Pilots Association.

Both the union and the airline are playing details of the agreement close to the vest, however.

"The NPA will not release any details of the contract; have any further comments on the tentative agreement, and/or the ratification process prior to the approval of the tentative agreement by its Board," the union told ANN. "The NPA's six pilot Board of Directors will meet [Tuesday] in Atlanta to begin considering the comprehensive agreement. Should the NPA Board affirm the tentative agreement it will then be forwarded to the entire pilot group for consideration."

AirTran spokesman Tad Hutcheson wouldn't discuss the deal, according to Bloomberg, which also reported the new contract would take effect July 1 if approved by union membership.

If the contract is ratified, it would resolve one front in a series of battles AirTran currently faces. The airline continues to push its hostile takeover bid for Midwest Air Group... and has recently met with some success, as 57 percent of Midwest shareholders recently approved a $389 million buyout offer. While not a resounding majority, it was enough to convince AirTran to extend the offer until June 8.

AirTran also faces a newly-reinvigorated Delta Air Lines at its Atlanta, GA hub.

The airline plans to add approximately 850 pilots to its ranks over the next three years, and is slated to receive 40 new Boeing 737-700s. AirTran also hopes to reduce its non-fuel costs by three percent in 2007, according to Chief Operating Officer Robert Fornaro. Those cuts would largely come from salaries and benefits.

FMI: www.airtran.com, www.npa-atl.org