What you are describing isn't a true meger. It would be one aquiring the other and operating the aquired carrier as a separate, but wholly owned entity. I think a true merger is more likely. They have been hammering out ways to blend work groups a lot lately. In theory, I think the merger is smart for NW and DL as companies, but as I've said many times before, these things are never done for the benefit of customers and certainly not employees, just shareholders and execs.