Delta Air Lines said Friday it would follow through on a promise to boost the pay of its mechanics, an increase that was postponed by the financial trouble caused in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks.

        The Atlanta-based airline will boost pay for its approximately 10,000 mechanics by an average of 16.6 percent March 16. The actual rates will vary by seniority, licenses held and other factors.

        The raises will cost the carrier, which employs about 200 mechanics at its second-largest hub at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, about $77 million in 2002, company spokeswoman Kristi Tucker said. They will also make Delta mechanics the second-highest paid in the industry behind American Airlines, The raise pushes pay for a senior Delta mechanic to about $71,700 a year.

        Delta had promised in August to boost mechanics' pay in October.

        The Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association is trying to unionize the airline's mechanics, but Ms. Tucker said there was “no correlation” between the organizing drive and the raises.

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