News In Brief

Striking pilots predict airline will be grounded

Striking Air Line Pilots Association members said Monday even though Continental Airlines has severely curtailed its domestic schedule the bankrupt carrier probably will not be flying much longer. Pilot spokesman Gary Thomas said Continental will run afoul of regulations restricting pilots to only 30 hours in the air per week.

A Continental spokesman however, said the company has no intention of cutting back flights and, in fact, plans to expand the schedule. He said the airline needs only 350 pilots to maintain its present service to 25 cities.