Republic Airways Holdings Inc. shares almost erased a decline after the airline’s pilot union said it was ready to resume talks on a contract, easing investor concern of a possible bankruptcy, Bloomberg News reported yesterday. The regional carrier has said a court-supervised restructuring is an option if a new contract isn’t secured. The shares had plunged as much as 32 percent after Teamsters General President James Hoffa refused to overturn a decision by Local 357 negotiators to skip a vote on the latest offer, which Republic had called a “final” one. Local 357 “is ready to resume negotiations” with Republic to reach an agreement as soon as possible, union President James Clark told members yesterday.
