Delta reaches out to pilots and passengers

Senior managers at Delta Air Lines have reached out to pilots and passengers amid concerns that a threatened industrial dispute is hurting ticket sales.

Delta was among the many U.S. airlines to experience financial difficulties during the post 9/11 downturn and filed for bankruptcy protection in September 2005.

Under the plan designed to return the airline to profitability, Delta needs to strike a deal with its pilots, but has so far been unable to reach an agreement. The threat of strike action is a real possibility.

Gerald Grinstein, the CEO, told reporters last night that talk of a strike by pilots had hit bookings, but assured passengers that a deal was imminent.

"The threat of a possible strike has affected bookings," the Financial Times quoted him as saying. "I think the pilots will agree that they have to get it done," Grinstein added. "I would be very surprised if it's not done by late spring."

Consolidation in the U.S. airline industry since 2001 has meant that Delta has not been alone in seeking concessions from its employees.

For passengers, the threat of disruption is a worry, but they can also benefit from some cut-price airfares as airlines battle for market share.

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