Jim Higgins Delta Quotations

My understanding is that the single greatest gap is on the Delta Express issue. Management is saying we need to enlarge it, and pilots saying we don't want it at all. That's a pretty big gap, so I'd be surprised if they reach an agreement today.

I think the Delta Express issue is proving to be intractable, ... ALPA hates the two-tier pay scale. Delta needs that, and needs more of it, if it's going to compete.

What really needs to happen is for Northwest, Delta and Continental to become two airlines. But I don't know how you get there. I don't think anyone does anything fast.

They may hope Delta takes a couple of punches and is more willing to negotiate,

They are very far apart on difficult issues like work rules. Delta has a work rule advantage versus other competitors that it doesn't want to give up. And among the pilots, there is a very vocal dissident group, and it makes it more difficult to reach a settlement,