LAX Times: "WN considering a merger with US"

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USA320Pilot

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Delta, Northwest on verge of a merger

"Analysts believe the next possible combination could involve United Airlines owner UAL Corp., the nation's fourth largest, and No. 6 Continental Airlines Inc. Southwest Airlines Co. reportedly is considering a merger with US Airways Group Inc., leaving only AMR Corp.'s American Airlines without a major merger partner."

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USA320Pilot
 
<_<
Delta, Northwest on verge of a merger

"Analysts believe the next possible combination could involve United Airlines owner UAL Corp., the nation's fourth largest, and No. 6 Continental Airlines Inc. Southwest Airlines Co. reportedly is considering a merger with US Airways Group Inc., leaving only AMR Corp.'s American Airlines without a major merger partner."

See Story

Regards,

USA320Pilot
I don't think so ! Why would SWA want to put its self in a world of hurt. SWA is MUCH smarter than that. <_<
 
Oklahoma news paper article .....

Norta Airlines? DelNor Airlines?

Trying to merge the names of two of the largest airlines — Delta and Northwest — seems almost as difficult as figuring out the effects the possible merger of the companies will have on travelers.

Although talk of a consolidation of No. 3 Delta Airlines and No. 5 Northwest Airlines has been circulating for months and a decision could be announced any day now, industry analysts say predicting the outcome of such a merger is almost impossible.

"You can't write this stuff; it's better than a mystery novel,†said Terry Trippler, airline expert for Tripplertravel.com.

Trippler said if the airlines merge, travelers may see some changes, but not enough to cause concern.

"Travelers have nothing to worry about; there will be seats,†Trippler said.

Mark Kranenburg, director of Will Rogers World Airport, said he would be surprised if the Oklahoma City airport were affected by the merger.

"We may see a reduction of flights, but I don't see a total elimination of a route,†Kranenburg said.

Kevin Schorr, managing director of TranSystems, a transportation consulting firm, said it is possible that a merged Delta and Northwest may decide to downsize routes to and from Memphis and Cincinnati.

"It's quite likely that some service might be reduced or discontinued, but at this point it's too early to say,†Schorr said.

Northwest has nonstop service from Oklahoma City to Memphis and Delta has direct service from Oklahoma City to Cincinnati.

Schorr said that if service to a destination is discontinued because of a merger, existing or new airlines may decide to pick up those routes and gain market share.

Jeff Mulder, director of Tulsa International Airport, said it's not unusual, especially in mergers, for one airline to start service to a destination that was recently dropped by another carrier.

"In the past, we've seen when mergers take place and remove service, another airline comes in and fills the gap,†Mulder said.

Trippler said a merge between two airlines increases the chances of having full flights and more international travel.

"The money is in international travel,†Trippler said. "What the airline wants is the feed. They want the domestic travel that feeds the international flights and the larger the airline the larger the feed.â€

Schorr said the opportunity to expand international presence often motivates an airline, such as Delta, to look at a merger.

"Delta doesn't have a presence in Asia,†Schorr said. "With the combination with Northwest, they get that overnight.â€

As the Delta/Northwest talks continue, Trippler expects other airlines to try to get in on the conversation and contemplate future merges.

"A merger that would not surprise me down the road would be a Southwest-US Airways merge, and that would be one hell of an airline,†he said. "You just never know.â€

But Trippler said it's time for Northwest and Delta to decide what they are going to do.

"This foreplay has gone on long enough,†he said.
 
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