ERLANGER — Comair said Monday it was eliminating 200 pilot positions and taking 17 planes out of its fleet because of the cost of the pilot strike, which hits its 23rd day today.

        “These are regrettable, but necessary, business decisions brought about by the economic reality of a prolonged strike,” Comair president Randy Rademacher said in a statement.

        The regional airline's 1,350 pilots walked out March 26 over work rules, retirement benefits, job pro tection and pay.

        Paul Lackie, spokesman for the Comair branch of the Air Line Pilots Association, said the move was to be expected, because it will take several months to recertify all the airline's pilots for commercial flying after the strike ends.

        “This is just what happens when you stop training,” Mr. Lackie said. “There is a big backlog, and there's no way they can get everyone on board.”

        The company said it would reduce its fleet from 119 planes to 102 by retiring nine Embraer Brasilia 120 turboprops and eight Canadair Regional Jets. In addi tion, the airline is indefinitely deferring delivery on 12 new Canadair Regional Jets.

        About half the lost positions are pilots who fly the 32-seat turboprops. All of those planes were based at the company's Orlando hub, and were to be phased out by the end of the year anyway along with the jobs of the pilots who flew them.

        The eliminated CRJ pilot positions were new or recently created, and the cuts were made because it will be impossible for all the airline's pilots to get recertified to fly commercially if and when the strike ends, Comair spokeswoman Meghan Glynn said.

        The airline also said it would be making unspecified cuts to its operations — it flew 815 daily departures before the strike.

Analyst: Comair cuts mean 'war'

Comair cutting 200 pilots, 17 planes
Tristate earnings reports
What's the Buzz?
Morning Memo
Tristate Summary
Gummi bears go global
Unions deal with Disney job cuts
DuPont to decide on drug division
Insurance premiums to rise