Northwest pilots' union is opposed to the merger and vowed to fight it.

"This agreement clearly disadvantages NWA [Northwest] pilots, both with respect to economic issues and seniority list integration," Dave Stevens, chairman of the pilots unit based near Northwest's headquarters in suburban Minneapolis, said in a statement. "A merger built on this unstable foundation is likely to put the combined airline in a position similar to that of US Airways."

Pouya Dianat/AJC (ENLARGE)

A passenger waits Monday at the Delta baggage claim area at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.

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US Airways and AmericaWest did not get pre-merger agreements from their pilots before they combined in 2005, and their pilots still are working under separate seniority lists and contracts, weighing down operational integration.

The Northwest union, which represents 5,100 active Northwest pilots, "will use all resources available to aggressively oppose the merger. The risk to Northwest Airlines and to the Northwest pilot group from letting this merger proceed, as it is now structured, is simply too great," Stevens said.

— Dan Chapman

Flight attendant: Merger necessary, but union is,too

Al Corry, a 34-year flight attendant based in Atlanta, said he understands the industry pressures that led to a merger.

"I think overall it's very necessary as far as potentially our survival, given our environment," said Corry, who has been with Delta since 1991.

He sees Northwest as a good merger partner with routes that will be harmonious to Delta's.

At the same time, he said, the merger shows why flight attendants need to be unionized: "We're at management's whim."

Corry is working to get Delta flight attendants to vote April 23 to join the Association of Flight Attendants, a union that already represents Northwest attendants.

"We're just as important as the pilots, if not more important, because we truly are frontline personnel," Corry said.

— Rachel Tobin Ramos

Loss of headquarters is 'a blow to Minneapolis'

Leon Obame is a Northwest ground operations supervisor in charge of loading and unloading baggage.

"We're all afraid because Delta is non-union. So being non-union, Delta is notorious for contracting out work at its down-line stations like Raleigh, LaGuardia and Birmingham. People there could all lose their jobs," Obame said.

"I'm thinking a lot of us will be using our jobs. Let's start with the headquarters — it's not coming here," Obame said. "The headquarters will eventually be shutting down, as will reservation centers [in Minnesota]. Even people working at the stores in the terminal will lose their jobs."

Losing the headquarters, Obame said, "is a blow to Minneapolis. It's 1,000 jobs. ... Minnesota will take a hit."

— Dan Chapman

Next phase of merger is critical, congressman says

"Delta has such a presence in Atlanta and thousands of families will be affected by this merger," U.S. Rep. David Scott (D-Atlanta) said in a statement.

Scott, who said he represents more Delta employees and retirees in his district than any other members of Georgia's congressional delegation, said: "The next phase of this process will be important as the combined carrier will have to address the future of current employees and the benefit commitments made to retirees."

— Jim Tharpe

Senator: Expect hearings on antitrust issues

"We will closely examine the merger announced today between Delta Air Lines and Northwest Airlines, a deal which is estimated to create the world's largest airline," U.S. Sen. Herb Kohl (D-Wis.), chairman of the Senate Antitrust Judiciary Subcommittee, said in a statement.

"A competitive airline industry is essential to both business and leisure travelers, and the health of the American economy.

"While we understand the financial pressures under which the major airlines have been operating, it is nonetheless also vital that this deal does not lead to fare increases and service reductions," Kohl said.

"We are especially concerned with the consequences of this deal for travelers in small and mid-sized markets, many of whom already have the fewest choice for air carriers today.

"We expect to hold hearings in the Antitrust Subcommittee to carefully examine the impact of this — and further possible airline consolidation — on competition and consumers," Kohl said in the statement.

— Jim Tharpe

Northwest pilot says he'll be praying

Northwest pilot George Rivera learned about the proposed merger while flying from the east coast to Minneapolis.

"Now, it's going to take some time for the merger to go through," Rivera said during an interview at the airport. "It all depends on what our union says. I'd like to see something fair for both groups. I'll be praying and asking the Lord for guidance."

— Dan Chapman

Foreign flight attendants on overseas flights?

Danny Cambell, a Detroit-based Northwest flight attendant with 18 years at the company, says his biggest fear with this merger is that management for the combined company will revive a proposal to use foreign flight attendants on all overseas flights — a move that could potentially save the airlines billions of dollars a year, but "start a race to the bottom," he said, in terms of flight attendant jobs and benefits.

This proposal was stymied by the Northwest flight attendants two years ago, said Campbell, a flight attendant union organizer. The Northwest union's current contract prevents foreign workers on flights.

Delta flight attendants will have two votes for union representation: one from April 23 to May 28. If that one fails, another vote will be taken as a combined Delta-Northwest work force.

If the vote fails again, Campbell said the Northwest contract instantly will be dissolved, and the work force will go without protections.

Campbell believes that integrating seniority lists will be easier if the two work forces are under the same union, because the union has clear cut rules for merging.

Delta has about 13,500 flight attendants; Northwest has about 8,500.

— Rachel Ramos

John Lewis: Atlantans benefit from deal

"This is a great step for Delta," said U.S. Rep. John Lewis (D-Atlanta). "It is a powerful combination that should help strengthen the air transportation industry in this country. This merger should make it easier for people in Atlanta and around the nation to fly, and it preserves the Delta name. The Delta headquarters will remain in Atlanta, which helps protect the economy of the city during a time of recession."

-- Jim Tharpe

-- Rachel Tobin Ramos and Jim Tharpe reporting from Atlanta and Dan Chapman reporting from Minneapolis.