ATW Daily News

Delta, Northwest continue merger push; pilot groups set to meet

Friday May 9, 2008

Delta Air Lines and Northwest Airlines executives continued to push the merits of their proposed merger this week, assuring both federal and state legislators that no "frontline" workers will be cut, while the two carriers' pilot groups plan to meet next week.

The airlines reiterated that about 1,000 jobs in management offices in Minneapolis and Atlanta will be eliminated as the new DL's headquarters are consolidated in Atlanta (ATWOnline, April 25). But further job losses will be avoided barring a catastrophic, unforeseen event, NWA President and CEO Doug Steenland told the US Senate earlier this week. "We have to recognize that there are variables out there that are completely outside our control [that could lead to job cuts in the future]," he explained. "It doesn't mean that we were misleading. . .It means there's been a sea change, a change in the external world that changes how this business needs to be run if it's going to stay in business."

DL President and CFO Edward Bastian testified this week before the Minnesota state legislature, assuring lawmakers angry that the state no longer will be the site of a major international airline's headquarters that MSP will remain a key hub and that frontline workers in the state will retain their jobs. He did not say how many of the 1,000 management office jobs to be cut will come from Minneapolis but emphasized that the decision to headquarter the new DL in Atlanta is final.

Meanwhile, pilots from both carriers will meet for two days next week to discuss issues such as seniority list integration. The groups were unable to reach an accord in several rounds of talks prior to the merger agreement announcement.

by Aaron Karp

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