January 27, 2012, 5:01 PM.

Delta Studying US Airways as Possible Acquisition Target — sources.


By David Benoit WSJ

Delta Air Lines is now looking at making a run at US Airways Group, WSJ colleagues Gina Chon, Anupreeta Das and Susan Carey are reporting.

Delta, the world’s No. 2 airline by traffic, also has been assessing a similar move for much-larger American Airlines parent AMR Corp., the people have said. It is working with Goldman Sachs Group Inc. as one of its financial advisers, along with Blackstone Group, the people said.

Delta sees itself as a consolidator in the airline industry and is studying several options, the people added.

Delta has not yet approached US Airways, the No. 5 U.S. airline, and is still weighing which deal if any would make most sense and have the best odds of success, the people familiar with the matter said. Delta’s last transaction was in 2008, when it acquired Northwest Airlines.

More details still to come.