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Detroit newspaper backed Delta-Northwest merger
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Detroit Free Press today came out in favor of the proposed Delta-Northwest airlines merger.
A proposal to create the world’s largest airline is stalled as pilot’s for both carriers try to figure out how to merge their seniority lists.
Here’s some of what the Free Press had to say in its editorial, which was headlined: “Pilots shouldn’t ground Northwest-Delta merger”:
“The proposed merger of Northwest and Delta airlines makes sense for both, more so than some other corporate marriages. In the uncertain world of commercial aviation, their pilots would be foolish to block it by failing to agree on a combined seniority list.
Northwest and Delta together would become the world’s largest airline. There is virtually no overlap in their service, so no pilots would be laid off and travel options would improve as each airline adds the other’s hubs to its network. But wary of the experience of other airlines that merged and then tried to work out pilot issues afterward, including Northwest and Republic in 1986, Northwest and Delta wisely want their pilots to come to terms first, before the merger goes forward, subject to government approval.
Seniority is a huge issue for pilots, and understandably so. It determines not only pay but also schedules, routes and which equipment the pilots are assigned to fly. Delta has about 9,000 pilots, Northwest 6,000. However, the Northwest pilots, on average, have more years in the air. Whatever union leaders work out has to be approved by their members, who will weigh the seniority terms against the prospect of a pay increase and other benefits from the merger.
If it doesn’t happen, each airline will be on its own to face increased competition, starting with European carriers under the “Open Skies” agreement that takes effect in late March.”
Here’s the link for the full editorial: http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080226/OPINION01/802260327
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