Pilots: Merger a 'last resort'

ROSEMONT -- Pilots at UAL Corp.'s United Airlines said Wednesday a merger with US Airways Group Inc. should be a "last resort" for their company because financial benefits probably would fall short. The United pilots have "serious concerns that the highly-touted financial benefits to be derived from such a merger are unlikely to be achieved," Steve Wallach, chairman of their union, said in a statement. Savings projections have "no basis in reality," so such a merger "should be a last resort and not a first choice for United," Wallach said. Fuel expenses and integration costs probably would deplete cash before the benefits of a tie-up were realized, he said.