Comair Pilots Approve Contract, End Strike

Pilots at Delta Air Lines Inc.’s Comair unit voted to ratify a contract agreement, ending a 13-week strike that threatened to scuttle the regional airline. The contract will make the pilots the highest paid in the regional airline industry, Comair and union officials said.

Comair said 64% of pilots who cast ballots voted in favor of the agreement. Cincinnati-based Comair said it will resume limited service to certain cities July 2.

Comair and the Air Line Pilots Assn. union reached a tentative agreement brokered by federal mediators last week. About 1,350 Comair pilots walked out March 26 after demanding salaries and benefits more in line with larger air carriers.

Annual salaries for starting pilots would go from about $16,000 to nearly $21,000 and increase to about $85,000 for senior jet pilots. Its senior pilots were getting a maximum salary of about $66,000.

Delta shares gained 14 cents to close at $43.54 on the New York Stock Exchange.