The two parties

have also agreed to an aggressive negotiating time line with a potential

deadline of April 1, 2001.

The two sides

will engage in intense mediation for a 90-day period beginning Dec. 1.

Absent a tentative agreement by Feb. 28, and subject to National Mediation

Board issuance of a proffer of arbitration, the parties will be released

to a 30-day cooling-off period, which will expire on or about April 1.

At that time, as permitted under the Railway Labor Act, the parties will

be free to engage in self-help.

"We view

this as a positive development that provides for a relatively short, finite

time frame to complete our contract negotiations, said Capt. Charles S.

Giambusso, chairman of the Delta Master Executive Council, a unit of ALPA.

"It will also allow the Delta pilots to focus on a schedule that

should result in a successful contract.

"In our

view," he added, "this indicates that management is serious

about reaching an agreement. Delta pilots have lived under a concessionary

agreement for almost five years. We are ready to share in the corporate

prosperity our sacrifices helped create."

ALPA and Delta

began negotiations for a new pilot working agreement Sept. 8, 1999, and

the current contract became amendable May 2, 2000. While the two sides

have made progress in the talks, the major economic portions of the contract

including compensation, benefits and job security have yet to be resolved.