Delta pilots union OKs retirement incentive plan

ATLANTA - Eligible Delta Air Lines Inc. pilots who elect to retire as part of an incentive program designed to reduce the number of pilots at the world's largest airline operator will receive up to nine months of severance pay and other benefits, according to the union.

Pilots with at least 10 years of service as of the end of this year and whose age and years of service added together equal at least 55 will have from Monday through July 15 to elect to participate.

The company has not said how many of its more than 12,000 pilots it hopes to cut, and neither the company nor the union has said how many pilots are eligible for the retirement incentive program.