Sides Only A Half-Percent Apart

Comair is severely threatened by ongoing labor trouble involving its flight attendants -- at least, that's was the word from Comair President Don Bornhorst in bankruptcy court Monday.

The Delta subsidiary says enough is enough -- and wants the court's permission to impose its own version of a contract on flight attendants.

That's not a new request. In fact, this is the second time Bornhorst has been to bankrupcty court asking a judge to void the attendants' contract. As Aero-News reported, he was turned down the first time.

This time, Bornhorst argues the lack of a contract is keeping the airline from winning new business. Both Continental and Northwest have turned down Comair bids to run regional operations, with the airlines each saying Comair's labor problems are a major deterrent.

When you look at it... you might not think the two sides are that far apart. Comair wants flight attendants to take a seven-and-a-half percent wage cut. The Teamsters, which represents all 970 flight attendants, says seven percent is as high as it'll go.

If the bankruptcy judge indeed voids the flight attendants' contract... the union says it'll strike.

FMI: www.comair.com