Clears The Way For Purchase Of New Aircraft

Comair pilots have decided to take one in the wallet, a two-year wage freeze that will free up company cash for the purchase of 35 new aircraft and allow Comair to take a bigger role in the affairs of parent company Delta Airlines.

The vote wasn't even close. ALPA said 87-percent of its Comair members voted to accept the wage hike moratorium in balloting that ended Tuesday.

For Comair, though, the new contract is something of a tightrope act. The regional carrier has to take delivery of 18 new aircraft by the end of next year. Another eight must be on the flightline no later than the end of 2007. All 35 of the newly-purchased planes have to be ready to fly for Comair by March 31st, 2008, according to union officials.

The new contract takes effect on the later of two dates -- either June 1st or on the delivery of the first new aircraft. There is more pressure on the airline to deliver: under their current contract, the pilots are scheduled to get a raise June 22nd.

Not Out Of The Clouds Yet

The agreement between Comair and its union pilots doesn't ensure peace and love at the airline -- not by a long shot. The company's flight attendants, who've also been asked to take a wage freeze, are still negotiating with the airline.

But two weeks ago, approximately 400 unionized mechanics turned down a contract calling for a two-percent pay increase. For those Machinists, it's back to the drawing board. The union is asking members for ideas, which will become the basis for talks sometime down the road.

FMI: www.comair.com