How long could a strike last?
Both sides say they are prepared for the long haul, and no negotiations have been scheduled. The parent group of the union, the Washington-based Air Line Pilots Association, is expected to shorten the normal 35-day waiting period for emergency funds to 14 days. That means 1,350 Comair pilots could start receiving $2 million a month in strike benefits as soon as April 16, with the first month prorated. The full monthly rate would be about $1,400 per pilot, as long as they are in good standing with the union. Many pilots have said they have been saving for as long as a year for a shutdown. The company also says it can last a long time. Not only does parent Delta have deep pockets, Comair had about $213 million in working capital in 1999, the last year the airline was a publicly traded company. However, the company had $511 million in annual operating costs, or about $1.5 million daily, according to the 1999 financial statement. Those costs would include expenses such as lease agreements
