The Buzzards are circling Delta

**T-Bird76** · 2006-11-21, 09:27 AM

Well here's an interesting story, looks like if the US/Delta deal goes through the Delta we know today is going to be chopped up. Yep the buzzards are circling overhead.

AP
Southwest Scopes US Airways-Delta Merger
Monday November 20, 9:10 pm ET
Southwest Looks Toward East Coast Expansion Amid Possible US Airways-Delta Merger

DALLAS (AP) -- Southwest Airlines officials see US Airways' $8 billion hostile merger bid for Delta as an opportunity for the Dallas-based airline to make inroads on the East Coast.

Southwest Airlines Co. founder and board chairman Herb Kelleher has called the CEOs of both airlines to express interest in any assets that might become available, Southwest spokeswoman Edna Ruano said Monday.

Merging airlines typically have to get rid of assets such as routes, gates and aircraft to allay antitrust concerns.

"We're definitely a company continuing to grow and looking for opportunities to grow and increase revenue," Ruano said. "The greatest overlap of the contemplated merger would be the East Coast. That's our least-developed region."

Southwest has routes to nine East Coast cities in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, from Manchester, Vt., south to Raleigh, N.C. The airline also serves six Florida cities: Jacksonville, Orlando, West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, and Tampa.

It recently started service to Dulles Airport in Washington, "a move that has helped us tremendously with business and leisure travelers," Ruano said.

"We're not currently in all places where people would like us to travel," Ruano said. "There are lots of opportunities growth-wise on the East Coast. The bottom line is we would like to grow."

Delta Air Lines Inc. also said Monday it is recalling 700 furloughed maintenance employees as it seeks to emerge from bankruptcy protection as a standalone carrier despite the bid by US Airways Group Inc.