Comair to Shutdown, “A Sad Day for our Industry,” says Division Director
The announcement on Wednesday by Comair CEO Ryan Gumm that Delta Airlines had decided that the airline would cease all operations effective September 29, 2012 has shocked the employees and communities it serves. The airline was once the shining star of the regional industry, starting over 35 years ago with piston powered twin engine aircraft and rapidly growing to turboprops and then regional jets by Delta Airlines several years ago. The recent new contract with Delta’s mainline pilots, limiting the number of smaller regional jets Delta would operate in their regional fleet reduced the number of aircraft operated by Comair to a level that could not sustain the airline financially.
“This is truly a devastating loss for the employees, their families and the community,” said Airline Division Director David Bourne. “The airlines decision several weeks ago to eliminate their 50 seat jets was difficult enough for our flight attendant’s who are members of Local 518; now to find out that instead of retrenching and revitalizing a key part of the airline, Delta’s actions have made it impossible for the airline to survive,” he continued.
“I have directed International Representative Rick Dubinsky to work with the leadership of Local 518 to secure the best possible severance packages for our flight attendants. We assume and hope that other union represented groups at Comair will have the same support from their unions.
While severance packages help with a painful transition, the reality is that the best transition is to a new job that recognizes the experience of the employee,” he went on to say. “It is my hope that the other unions at Delta will join us in calling upon Delta management to immediately acknowledge the consequences their actions will have on these loyal employees, their families and the community. I call upon Delta and urge them to offer immediate employment to the Comair flight attendants and other employees affected by this shutdown,” he concluded.
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Delta Air Lines has announced plans to shut down operations of subsidiary Comair on Sept. 29. In a letter to employees, Comair President Ryan Gumm said the decision was "an unfortunate necessity due to the economic limitations of our aging aircraft, cost structure, the long-term outlook for 50-seat aircraft, and our challenging industry and economy."
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