That's preposterous! Wouldn't someone simply point out that this stuff happens during every merger like you suggested?

Delta-Northwest Merger: Newlyweds Flying in Opposite Directions? - The Middle Seat Terminal - WSJ

Delta-Northwest Merger: Newlyweds Flying in Opposite Directions?

Airlines that merge typically run into operational problems a year or two after the deal closes as they integrate operations: putting computer systems together, for example, and melding maintenance, airport staff and ultimately crews can lead to snafus that inconvenience passengers.
But at Delta Air Lines, an operational slide seems to have started about the time that Delta’s acquisition of Northwest Airlines Corp. was announced.
According to a new Department of Transportation report out Wednesday, Delta was the worst major carrier in on-time performance in November. (The only two airlines of any size worse than Delta were its two regional partners, Comair and Atlantic Southeast.)
Delta and Atlantic Southeast also had the dubious distinction of being the only two airlines with a higher rate of customer complaints filed with the DOT in November than in November 2007. In complaints, Delta was worst among majors.
Back in the fourth quarter of 2007 and the first quarter of 2008, Delta was humming along, ranking No. 4 in on-time performance among the 19 airlines that report to DOT. But in the second quarter of last year, Delta fell to No. 9, then down to No. 12 in the third quarter. In October, Delta ranked No. 16. Then No. 17 in November.
A spokeswoman for Delta says the November on-time rate “was lower than we’d like and was impacted by four days of rain, low ceilings and (air-traffic control) programs.”
Pointing to higher annual results for 2007 and 2008, plus improvements in baggage handling, she said, “Overall, Delta people are delivering excellent results for our customers.”
Curiously, the on-time numbers were just the opposite for Northwest. Going back to the fourth quarter of 2007, Northwest was a dismal No. 15 in on-time performance, then No. 11 in both the first- and second- quarters of last year. Once the merger deal was signed, things improved markedly. By the third quarter last year, Northwest was No. 6, then No. 2 in October and No. 3 in November.
Delta notes that Northwest and Delta often face different weather conditions since Northwest flies largely in the northern tier of the country and Delta in the southern tier. Over long periods of time, weather factors typically even out.
On-time performance often reflects how employees feel about their airline and their managers, and how much attention executives are paying to both rallying workers and working towards a smooth operation. The latest DOT numbers suggest Northwest workers rallied with the merger news, but Delta workers perhaps weren’t as happy with the prospects of the combination. That, or Delta management was simply distracted by the task of creating the world’s largest airline company.