Job Fair Atlanta

Why is Northwest Airlines so eager to merge with Delta?

I'm really upset because I like MSP - Minneapolis Airport and they've done an outstanding job keeping flights on schedule and accomodating customers like me in Minneapolis. - NEVER ONCE BEEN DELAYED. ! It's a well-run airport and manages its operations more smoothly than Atlanta-Hartfield. I am very unhappy that Minneapolis is losing its big hub, I'm very strongly opposed to the merge and think it's not fair to Northwest. Edit: neilinpd, it's unfair to Northwest employees that Northwest management can't appreciate how strong their airline can be without needing Delta. My argument is that Northwest spokespeople could do a better job representing the interests of Northwest as a whole. They are selling their own airline short.

Public Comments

1. Both airlines stink in my opinion especially because they rank high in baggage loss and low in customer service (compared to United and AA).
2. What makes you think that the New Delta is planning on dumping MSP as a hub?? It's probably not going to. What will change is that NW headquarters will no longer exsist in MSP, but instead where Delta's current headquarters are in ATL. MSP airport will no doubt continue to operate as a viable hub operation for the newly combined airline. It'd make no sense for the 'new' Delta to disassemble a fortress hub like MSP...NW pretty much has it sewn up in that market. Your question doesn't seem to make sense. Your question starts "Why is Northwest Airlines so eager to merge with Delta?", but you end your statements with "...it's not fair to Northwest." If NW is eager to merge, then why would it be unfair to them? If it's what that company wants (and it sounds as though it does), then what exactly is unfair to them? **EDIT ** I've flown NW many, many times, and they aren't selling ANYbody short except their passengers. Their employees are definitely not a happy bunch (understandably so), and their service has been anything LESS than stellar. Maybe between the two of them they can eventually manage to eek out a product that won't piss off every other customer that boards one of their planes. In any event, my answer to your question still stands...it makes no sense for the New Delta to abandon an established hub such as MSP...especially considering the huge market share NW holds there.
3. Both airlines feel that a merger would increase revenue and hopefully increase profits. The new airline would be restructured, destinations would be added, as well as better connections to more places, as both airlines route maps barely overlap. It has been stated that the Minneapolis hub would be kept in place as no hubs are to be dismantled. It is unfair to Northwest, but in a world of sky high gas prices and a weakening economy, the old airline structures just don't work. Visit the website put up by both airlines about the merger for more information: http://www.newglobalairline.com/
4. Well with all this merger hype it is important to remember that just because the company has intentions to merge doesn't necessarily mean that it will happen. It does seem to be pretty inevitable and likely other airlines will follow suit. The govt still has to approve the merger and that will take several months. Also actual integration is realistically a couple of years off. I don't see MSP ceasing to exist, the point is to take the two airlines and make one huge airline. Currently NW and DL are partners so you can purchase a ticket from NWA and still end flying through ATL or even Houston with the other partner CO. Everything at this point is all speculation. So I guess we all shall see.
5. The airlines are eager to merge because they feel they can cut costs such as any overlapping routes. Also with Delta and Northwest merging, Delta will get a solid foothold in Asia. Delta has a strong presence in Europe but only flies to Tokyo and Shanghai in Asia. They rely on their alliance carriers for an Asian presence. With fewer airlines, it means less competition and ticket prices will go up. This benefits the airlines since they have been losing quite a bit of money with the price of oil being so high. As for MSP, I do not think Delta would close that hub. Minneapolis is a pretty big city and has a lot of loyal Northwest passengers. Definitely Delta will be looking at what hubs are beneficial and which ones should be closed. But Northwest does have some agreement with the city of Minneapolis in which I think they receive tax credits or tax break since they have a hub in Minneapolis. If the airline pulls out too soon, they would have to repay the city a lot of money. If Minneapolis does not generate enough revenue for Delta, they may consider closing that hub or decrease the number of flights operated out of there. When American Airlines and TWA merged, there were concerns that AA would close the St. Louis hub but AA assured people it wouldn't. However over time, AA decreased the number of flights operated out of there. St. Louis is still an AA hub but is does not operate as many flights as TWA did when the airline was a stand-alone carrier. I think you have to watch and see what happens. One thing to know is Minneapolis a city where lots of people begin or end their flight or is it just a city where a lot of people connect to get to their final destination. I live in Cincinnati and Delta used to have its second largest hub in Cincinnati. However most people don't come to Cincinnati but only come to our city to transfer to get onto another flight. Therefore Delta ended up cutting a lot of flights out of Cincinnati. US Airways did the same thing with Pittsburgh as Pittsburgh is now only a focus city instead of a hub for the airline.