United Pilots to Discuss Recovery Plan

Pilots at UAL Corp.’s United Airlines said they agreed to discuss participating in the carrier’s financial recovery plan but will discuss labor cost relief only as part of a bigger plan that includes sacrifices by all employee groups.

The pilots’ willingness to talk represented the first such statement from any employee group at the No.2 U.S. airline, which is struggling with financial losses in the wake of Sept. 11.

Representatives for 26,000 flight attendants said Friday that they were not willing to take part in any discussions about concessions.

Shares of Elk Grove Village, Ill.-based UAL closed up 50 cents to $14.92 on the New York Stock Exchange.