Are DL pilots really going to go through this? If so, it will be a death knell for the airline, which is in a precarious financial shape. I sympathize with the pilots, but the economics of the airline industry has changed significantly. The halcyon days of a pilot earning $250K are over. -- Niraj Agarwalla -----Original Message----- From: The Airline List [mailto:AIRLINE@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Roger LaFrance Sent: Thursday, April 06, 2006 9:59 AM To: AIRLINE@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: Delta strike possible April 17a Delta strike possible April 17 4/6/2006 ATLANTA (AP) - Leaders of the pilots union at Delta Air Lines said Wednesday they gave their chairman the right to order a strike at the nation's third-largest carrier at anytime after April 17. It was the first time the union has mentioned a date in connection with its threat to strike if the Atlanta-based company is successful in voiding its contract so it can impose up to $325 million in long-term pay and benefit cuts. The union has not set a strike date, however, and both the pilots and the company are continuing to talk in hopes of reaching a consensual agreement.=20 Roger & Amanda La France