Exactly. With the price of jet fuel the way it is (and it is not coming down), and the current state of the airline industry, Delta and Northwest cannot afford to pass this opportunity up.

I only hope Delta and Northwest pilots are able to come to a deal before Delta/Northwest management decides to proceed with the merger without pilot support (and without their proposed 30% pay raise).


Everyone complains that airline management is stupid because they are parking aircraft instead of raising ticket prices. They can't raise ticket prices because there is hardly any pricing power. Just look at how many times each airline has attempted to raise fares just $5 in the past three years. For every single $5 increase that sticks, at least five others were repealed. If Delta and Northwest merge, United and Continental will be allowed to merge. This may set off a few smaller mergers amongst majors/LCC's. Then we will be left with a few major airlines controlling the majority of the market share. Airlines will then have much more pricing power. They will pass the increase of fuel prices onto the customer, and airlines will make money (and that is good for a union).

So Delta and Northwest pilots who are afraid of losing just a little bit of seniority, would you rather be 40% on a list of one of the six legacy carriers, or would you rather be 45% on the world's largest, strongest, and most able to compete carrier.

So just come to an agreement already (how about baseball arbitration) before Delta/Northwest management go ahead with the merger without pilot support (and without the 30% pay raise).