Comair, pilots, disagree on pay as regional airline tries to exit bankruptcy protection

<p>Comair pilots would still have pay and benefits in line with other regional airline pilots if a federal bankruptcy judge allows the company to throw out the pilots' contract, Comair argued in a court filing Monday. The pilots disagree.</p><p>The airline, a subsidiary of Delta Air Lines Inc., stressed that it needs to impose $15.8 million in concessions _ lowering pilots' wages and retirement benefits _ to carry out its restructuring plan.</p><p>The Air Line Pilots Association representing 1,500 Comair pilots said the amount of concessions the airline is demanding would leave its pilots' pay well below market levels.</p><p>The pilots' union also argued that Comair is making profits and doesn't need all the concessions it is demanding in order to emerge from bankruptcy.</p><p>Comair, based in Erlanger, Ky., near Cincinnati, and Atlanta-based Delta filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in September 2005.</p><p>Comair said in its filing it is still struggling to cut costs to be competitive with other regional airlines as it tries to emerge from bankruptcy.</p><p>The airline argued that its proposal would leave pilots with benefits "comparable to or more generous than other airlines in the regional industry."</p><p>U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Adlai Hardin heard four days of testimony last month about whether the contract could be voided and told the two sides to try to reach a deal while he considered their arguments.</p><p>The airline and union resumed talks Monday after failing to reach agreement in negotiations last week.</p>