Tupelo, Miss. Officials Hope Mesaba Strike Avoided

If union workers go on strike at Mesaba Aviation -- the regional carrier for Northwest Airlines -- officials at Tupelo Regional Airport know their work won't get any easier.

Still, TRA Executive Director Terry Anderson said airport employees are prepared to handle the extra load if necessary.

"I think we, as the airport authority, have done the best we can to prepare ourselves in the event of a strike," he said.

Airport workers in Tupelo can take care of operations for Mesaba because of their training, even though it make them a little longer than usual, Anderson said.

A bankruptcy judge ruled Monday that Mesaba can reject it union contract with workers and can impose its terms at 12:01 a.m. today. Pilots, mechanics and flight attendants for Mesaba say they will strike rather than accept the proposed pay cuts and work rule changes.

The judge was scheduled to hear the airlines request for an injunction against a strike Tuesday.

In addition to airport personnel picking up the slack, Tupelo Regional also has ASA/Delta Connection air service. Through code-sharing agreements, the airline also could help ferry passengers to their destinations.

"I've already notified Delta that they might want to increase capacity in the event there is a strike," Anderson said.

While a strike looms, it's nothing new for the airport. Potential work stoppages have been dogging the industry for several years, even as carriers try to either avoid or come out of bankruptcy. Anderson isn't sure what to think.

"How many times have we been through this?" he said. "Right now, I'm in a quandry about how service might be affected."

Jamie Owens, Mesaba's station manager in Tupelo, said all flights are running as scheduled for now, and that airline officials are working hard during the labor standoff.

He said Northwest Airlines will contact passengers of any flight delays or cancellations.

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