By James Pilcher
The Cincinnati Enquirer

The pilot unions of Delta Air Lines subsidiaries Comair and ASA on Monday asked management to merge their airlines into one operating unit, a move that would create the nation's largest regional airline.

Each branch of the Air Line Pilots Association also said that if the two companies can't be joined, the unions should become one unit.

"At this time, Delta has come to us, asking for concessions, ostensibly to cut costs," Comair pilot union chairman J.C. Lawson III said. "But if we were to merge, our indicators tell us that this would be the simple way to do it."

The proposal comes as both airlines are asking unionized workers for concessions.

Erlanger-based Comair, which endured an 89-day pilot strike in spring 2001 that almost killed the company, employs 1,700 pilots. They are the highest-paid in the regional airline industry.

Delta is assigning new flights to regional carriers and is taking bids from its subsidiaries and from non-Delta owned companies. Comair officials say submitting a competitive bid with lower operating costs is the only way to secure new planes and flights. Delta has set a Dec. 15 deadline to apply for the flights.

Comair officials, who also are talking with flight attendants about concessions, would not comment on the union's merger proposal. However, company spokesman Nick Miller said Comair will continue to negotiate in advance of the bid deadline.

A Comair/ASA merger could put the pilots in a stronger bargaining position. In a letter to pilots Monday, union leadership from both carriers said that "consolidating our two pilot groups will also limit Delta's future whipsawing efforts and provide us with a stronger voice with management."