Delta `hopeful' about alliance

ATLANTA Delta Air Lines and its pilots union leadership aretrying to work out a deal that would allow a proposed global alliancewith United Airlines to go forward.

"We still consider this a doable agreement," Delta spokesmanBill Berry said Monday. "We're talking and we remain hopeful."

United, the nation's No. 1 carrier, and No. 3 Delta were withinhours of announcing an alliance - including frequent fliercombinations and code-sharing on each other's route systems - in NewYork on Friday. But they had to suspend the plan after Delta pilotsdemanded a voting board seat as a condition for further negotiations.Both carriers' pilots unions had to approve the plan before it couldgo forward.Delta's chief executive, Leo F. Mullin, flew Friday from NewYork to a pilots meeting in Portland, Ore., to discuss pilotconcerns. He was in Florida today for a long-scheduled event.The head of the Air Line Pilots Association group at Delta toldhis more than 8,000 members today that union leaders would beavailable to them this week to talk about the proposed alliance."The best interests of the Delta pilots will be protected.Period," union group chairman Denny Dolan said in a taped message toALPA members."While the (union leadership) understands the strategicimplications of this potential alliance, we are still awaitingresolution of the issues addressed with Mr. Mullin," said unionspokeswoman Karen McGuffey.The union has long sought a voting member on the 12-member Deltaboard of directors. It also wants full access to all informationabout the proposed code-sharing and has expressed concern about thepossible impacts on job security and advancement opportunities.United and Delta are trying to join an industry trend.Northwest Airlines and Continental Airlines are seeking regulatoryclearance for a similar pact signed in January. On Thursday,American Airlines and US Airways Group Inc. announced plans to mergetheir frequent-flier programs and work with their unions on expandingthe pact to include code-sharing.