Mesa Air, Union Reach Tentative Agreement

AVIATION

*

Mesa Air Group Inc. reached a tentative agreement with its 365 flight attendants on a new contract until June 2006 that the commuter airline said includes “major improvements” in pay and benefits.

The agreement ensures that attendants for Freedom Airlines, a Mesa unit formed to operate some regional jets, will be union members, a spokesman for the Assn. of Flight Attendants said. The workers’ votes are scheduled to be counted Sept. 24.

Phoenix, Ariz.-based Mesa operates 139 planes with 919 daily flights to 147 cities in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. The company provides commuter service for America West Airlines, US Airways Group Inc. and Frontier Airlines Inc. and also flies under its own name.

Mesa shares fell 1 cent to $6.41 on Nasdaq. They have declined 15% this year.