Delta Air Lines offered its 13,000 pilots a raise of about 27% over 4 years, significantly less than what the employees have proposed in contract talks that have lingered since the beginning of the year. The carrier’s proposal was disclosed in a letter Sunday to pilots from John Malone, chairman of the Delta chapter of the Air Line Pilots Association, which is asking for a 37% raise over 3 years. The two sides have been deadlocked over pay and other issues since the contract became amendable Dec 31. The union has taken an aggressive stance in negotiations with the airline, saying that the carrier’s profits justify the reversal of pay and benefits cuts adopted in the early 2000s. The pilots had voted down an agreement in July 2015 that would have provided an immediate 8% raise and smaller boosts in future years. <br/>