Of those pilots

eligible to vote, 97.18 percent cast a ballot, and of those, 70.3 percent

voted in favor of the agreement.

Pay rates in

the contract are retroactive to the working agreement's amendable date

of May 2, 2000.

Most work rule

changes will take effect July 1, 2001, with others being phased in over

a period of time.

"The significant

improvements contained in this contract are a direct result of the Delta

pilots' unity and resolve during the 18-month negotiating process,"

said Capt. Charles S. Giambusso, chairman of the Delta Master Executive

Council, a unit of ALPA.

"This

agreement proves once again the collective bargaining process works for

working families," he said.

"We are

confident that, where applicable, the significant improvements of this

contract will carry over to all Delta employees," Giambusso added.

"Further, this contract illustrates the benefits of contractual protections,

which offer job security protections and improvements to quality of life

for employees."

The new contract

will become amendable May 1, 2005, and contains $2.4 billion in improvements.

"The successful

conclusion to these negotiations reaffirms that collective bargaining

can work if both parties are committed to resolving issues through this

time-proven process," said Giambusso.

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