DENVER—A federal bankruptcy judge has ruled that Frontier Airlines can outsource its aircraft maintenance only as a last resort.
The ruling Friday by U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Robert Drain came in the labor dispute between the Denver-based carrier and the Teamsters union. Teamsters officials say the ruling means that mechanics will continue to work on heavy maintenance in Denver, but the union still opposes all outsourcing.
Teamsters Airline Division Director David Bourne says the union anticipates appealing the decision.
Frontier Airlines and its unions negotiated wage and benefit concessions earlier this year when it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
The carrier is the second-largest at Denver International Airport, employing more than 5,000 people.
