Comair to Sell Jets, Lay Off 400 Workers

Comair said it will lay off 400 more of its 2,000 nonstriking employees and sell an additional 20 jets because of a continuing strike by pilots of the regional airline.

Comair’s management said the reductions will cut the company’s daily losses from the strike to between $1.5 million and $2 million. So far, the pilots’ strike has cost Comair and its parent, Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines Inc., $4 million in lost revenue a day, or a total of $208 million since the strike began March 26.

No new talks are scheduled between Comair and the Air Line Pilots Assn., which represents its 1,350 pilots.

Comair laid off 2,000 of its nonstriking employees Sunday. The last day of work for the next group of 400 workers to be laid off will be May 29. Most of those among the 400 are customer-service employees.

Union leaders said they’re ready to resume negotiations at any time with Comair, but management has not responded. Union negotiators wanted to work out a deal in their talks with Comair in Washington this month, union spokesman Jim Evans said.

Shares of Delta closed off 92 cents at $43.99 on the NYSE.