Republic pilots union expects new contract to survive bankruptcy

Republic Airways doesn’t plan to cut aviators’ jobs or seek to throw out their 4-month-old contract in bankruptcy court, according to the pilots union. A potential bankruptcy filing had been part of monthly discussions between leaders of Republic’s pilots union and airline executives, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 357 executive board told members Friday. The posting came a day after Republic, which provides regional flights for American, Delta and United airlines, sought protection from creditors. “While this news is disappointing, it is not at all surprising,” the union said. Republic has about 2,100 pilots. There is no plan to reduce the number of pilots, even as the airline seeks to drop Q400 turboprops and Embraer E145 aircraft from its fleet, the union’s posting said. <br/>