DAL acquired NWA, as much as that is painful to realize..it is what it is.
we are wearing their uniforms, they are painting our aircraft to their livery, we have their service and their branding and I just learned their procedures at IQ and more at AQ later on... that is what happened, but for the sake of approval it is labeled a merger(because they took on the whole company and employees).. There is not a brand new company being formed with the two carriers and a completely different name change, it is actually DAL growing again..(like they have over many decades) into the bigger better newer version of DAL.. but because they took on the entire operation and employees its also a "merger" that is how the Justice Department is going to view it..
I see that clearly now..
same thing happened with TWA, they were acquired by AA, but it was a merger non-the less, because they took on most if not all of the company assets, their debt and their employees. because they took the airline as an entire package deal it is also a "merger", they have a responsibility to treat everyone as equals regardless of seniority.
when there is one company who retains their name and the other company is absorbed into that brand, it is an acquisition..
When one name survives regardless of what they pick up, it still an acquisition.
unless there are specifics initially that states they will only take on certain aircraft and routes while offering the employees the ability to apply for a job, then its not considered a merger for approval. it is simply an asset transfer, asset acquisition...
(and usually that happens during a liquidation or in Chapter 7 or if pieces of the company is sold off) That was not the case for TWA.
but regardless of all of that, if they actually take on employees they should be treated fairly regardless if it is one or ten thousand.
and no one deserves to lose all their seniority in these mergers/acquistions!
its sort of like this..
Airline Company A
Airline Company B
Company A will retain their name, livery, procedures
Company B full operation will be completely integrated into Company A
it is an acquisition.
when it is sent for approval it is labeled a merger because the entire operation of Company B
is being absorbed into Company A.
Airline Company C
Airline Company D
Company C will retain their name, livery, procedures
Company D will be partially integrated into Company C and transferring some jobs
it is an acquisition
Its all technically an acquisition.