Delta and Northwest "Close" to Merger

[Matt Molnar]

Sources say a deal may be done in weeks, but could still potentially collapse, according a story published this evening in the Financial Times (http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/cb732600-d442-11dc-a8c6-0000779fd2ac.html?nclick_check=1).

[JetBlueAirwaysFan]

I really think this will be an interesting merger.

I wonder what routes/destinations they would drop/add, and fleet modifications they would make?

Proposed name for said airline: "Delta West Airlines"

[nwafan20]

I hate this... Grr....

The name will stay with Delta, the HQ will stay with Delta, basically Delta is buying NW even though NW has more money and is in a better financial situation...


Don't you just hate when your least favorite airline and your most favorite airline merge? Grr..

[JetBlueAirwaysFan]

That isn't the case for me...but I guess you might be flying Delta more if this happens. I am sure NWA will be kept alive in this forum.

[moose135]

Don't you just hate when your least favorite airline and your most favorite airline merge? Grr..

I feel your pain, Matt...

http://moose135.smugmug.com/photos/253099525_iwTwV-S.jpg

[nwafan20]

Don't you just hate when your least favorite airline and your most favorite airline merge? Grr..

I feel your pain, Matt...

http://moose135.smugmug.com/photos/253099525_iwTwV-S.jpg

That is exactly what I was thinking when I wrote it..

"One great future" Yeah, for AA, not TWA or its employees...

I am quite worried that the NW brand will fall into history, which troubles me. My only hope is that either they do a KL/AF style merger, or somehow the deal gets called off.

There are a few reasons why I think it may stay as a KL/AF merger:

Asia is a huge market for NW, and NW has a huge FF base there with good brand recognition while Delta is completely unknown
the US-Japan rights hold no guarantees of transferring over to Delta.
In the midwest, Northwest has a fairly large name recognition and FF base.
a KL/AF style merger would allow them to share mgmt and handling servies, but also allow NW to have the close ties with KL and DL the close ties with AF making a large super carrier in the US.
the single company might raise antitrust concerns (I hope it does)


Really, all I can do is hope now....

[Matt Molnar]

More: Sources say Delta and Northwest have shared a merger plan with their pilots' unions. The airlines have neither confirmed nor denied.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid= ... refer=home (http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aqdjpUSbrD5E&refer=home)

[JetBlueAirwaysFan]

What evidence would lead someone to believe that this would be like KL and AF?

I think this will be more like AA and TWA...unfortunately for some of you. I hope it doesn't because I have never flown NWA and would like to in the future, therefore siding me with nwafan.

[nwafan20]

What evidence would lead someone to believe that this would be like KL and AF?

I think this will be more like AA and TWA...unfortunately for some of you. I hope it doesn't because I have never flown NWA and would like to in the future, therefore siding me with nwafan.

There has been A LOT of talk about it being an AF/KL style merger, I did not just pull that out of my *you know what*. No one knows until the official announcement is made.

[JetBlueAirwaysFan]

What evidence would lead someone to believe that this would be like KL and AF?

I think this will be more like AA and TWA...unfortunately for some of you. I hope it doesn't because I have never flown NWA and would like to in the future, therefore siding me with nwafan.

There has been A LOT of talk about it being an AF/KL style merger, I did not just pull that out of my *you know what*. No one knows until the official announcement is made.
Unfortunately, I have heard more talk about NWA going under if they merge rather than an KLM/AF type merger.

[nwafan20]

What evidence would lead someone to believe that this would be like KL and AF?

I think this will be more like AA and TWA...unfortunately for some of you. I hope it doesn't because I have never flown NWA and would like to in the future, therefore siding me with nwafan.

There has been A LOT of talk about it being an AF/KL style merger, I did not just pull that out of my *you know what*. No one knows until the official announcement is made.
Unfortunately, I have heard more talk about NWA going under if they merge rather than an KLM/AF type merger.

So have I, but I have still heard talk the other way around. No one will know until it is announced.

[JetBlueAirwaysFan]

That is true.

[hiss srq]

Announceing Delta's newest hubs in MSP, DTW and MEM!!!!!! Lets put widgets on the Airbus fleet!

[Delta777LR]

Would Delta keep NWA Airbuses or dump them? Delta dumped their A310s after being purchased from Pan Am back in the early ninetys. I think Delta is more with Boeing than Airbus.

[nwafan20]

Actually, they didn't dump the A310's right away.

There is no way they could dump them. NW is a very large airline with the largest A330 fleet in the world and a very large A32X fleet. It would be stupid, and virtually impossible to throw them out.

[Delta777LR]

Heres My Delta/Northwest merger picture I just finished 10 minutes ago..... Check this Hybird out!!


http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o37/sergair/NorthwestDeltaMerger.jpg

[nwafan20]

Nice,

One thing I hope is in the merger, they modify their livery to have it the NW tan instead of white, gives it a bit more "look".

[hiss srq]

I wonder if Delta is going to keep their DC-9's around for a little while. ;)

[Delta777LR]

I doubt that Delta would keep them awhile, They will probably phase them out right away. Delta hasnt operated any older nines since the early ninetys, so who knows

[hiss srq]

I doubt that Delta would keep them awhile, They will probably phase them out right away. Delta hasnt operated any older nines since the early ninetys, so who knows
I know, my attempt at humor was to engage and flare the NWA people.

[nwafan20]

Thanks Hiss ;)

They will not and wont dump that much capacity right away, that is what people don't understand. NW's DC-9 replacement schedule is probably what they will go by, it is already a very aggressive schedule.

[JetBlueAirwaysFan]

I agree with nwafan. They will not dump all of that capacity that quick.