The union representing Delta pilots did not spell out what measures pilots at other airlines promised to take after meeting for two days in Amsterdam.

"It would be subject to each group of pilots deciding their own measures," said Kelly Collins, spokeswoman for the Delta unit of the Air Line Pilots Association.

Last week, Ed Thiel, a Salt Lake City-based member of the union's executive council, said past solidarity agreements have included promises not to fly extra flights to move passengers stranded by a strike. Thiel, who attended the Amsterdam meeting, was unavailable for comment Thursday.

Attending the meeting were pilots for AeroMexico, Air France, Alitalia, Continental Airlines, CSA Czech Airlines, KLM, Korean Air and Northwest Airlines. The group is known as the SkyTeam Pilots Association. They fly for airlines that have "code share" agreements with Delta. Code sharing is a practice where a flight operated by an airline is marketed and flown for another airline.

Delta spokesman Bruce Hicks said the Atlanta-based airline remains committed to reaching an agreement on pay and benefits cuts with its pilots, including 560 pilots stationed at Delta's hub in Salt Lake City.

"If there is a strike, it will be fatal to Delta Air Lines," Hicks said. "Delta operates today on borrowed money. We would instantly lose our financing and our creditor support. We would have no means of continuing to operate."

Delta pilots say they will refuse to fly if a panel of three arbitrators agrees that Delta can throw out its contract with the union and unilaterally impose more than $300 million in cuts. The cuts would be on top of $1 billion in annual concessions made by the pilots 15 months ago. The median wage for a Delta pilot is $140,000.

The panel will hold hearings beginning next Monday in Washington. It has 45 days to issue its ruling. Negotiators for the pilots and the company are expected to continue to meet during the hearings.

While the pilots and Delta disagree over whether a strike would be illegal, legal experts say it's not clear whether the law would permit a walk-out.

"Some people believe that in bankruptcy you would not be able to strike. But there are no cases on point," said David Larson, a law professor at Hamline University School of Law in St. Paul, Minn.

Delta, the nation's No. 3 airline, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in September.

pbeebe@sltrib.com