Delta Tick-Tock
 

It would appear time is of the essence-

http://www.ajc.com/search/content/bu...elta_0204.html

Definitely an interesting spin. However, how will Delta justify acquiring NWA when they loose all the Asian routes post-merger.

How would they lose all the asian routes post-merger?

He's probably referring to the 4-th freedom rights that require the airline's name to be "Northwest" (formerly Northwest Orient). I probably don't have it exactly correct but many of the Asia rights require the NWA name.

I believe this stuff was negotiates eons ago and in today's global business world I think everything is negotiable to some degree.

Who knows...

I'm just curious why you word it like that? Isn't Delta broke?

Broke has nothing to do with it. The money comes from the hedge fund vampires, not the airline. That is how USAIR put a bid in on Delta shortly after emerging from a BK in which they had to wipe out employee pensions. "Yeah, thats right Mr. Department of Justice Man, we cancelled all of our employees pensions (except management bonuses, golden parachutes etc) because we were bankrupt and now, 6 months later, and now we have 10 Billion $ to offer Delta."

Scoop

It would not be an acquisition but a merger of relative equals. The Fifth freedom rights issue for Asia flying is largely a moot point. There are provisions to continue the rights after a merger. The name of the merged carrier will likely be Delta with HQ in Atlanta but the training center and maintenance facility in MSP will remain indefinitely. The two major stumbling blocks are the power struggle between Frankensteenland and Anderson and merger opposition in Congress. I saw the article while passing through ATL Monday and it is largely correct that time is of the essence if this deal is to be done. For all involved (including my better half and many friends), if the deal happens y'all better hope Anderson is in charge and Frankensteenland gets sent down the road like he should have been eons ago.

Equals?

NWA is shrinking, Delta is growing. NWA has MoTown, Snow Town and No Town. NWA has a buch of jets with one way flight plans to the recycling center, Delta has widebodies with more coming and to hold my equipment at NWA would require between 10 and 13 years' seniority and I've been at DAL less than a year. Later this year the 777 will get very close to being held by new hires.

Have you seen the pay rates? Equal, only if you consider something like seventy cents to the dollar equal. Not to mention quality of life, morale, and the other intangibles that made Delta a first choice and NWA not even a consideration.

Equals? Not from the perspective of a Delta pilot. This is a absolute disaster from a seniority integration perspective.

So, bucking bar, What equipment are you on?

767 - nearly a lineholder if I went to the international side. Bid with 500 slots supposed to come out Friday, or Monday.

Regardless, with North West's history of breaking unions and telling their inflight folks to consider "looking for their treasure in other people's garbage," I simply will not work for NorthWest. Put Steenland in charge and I would fax in my resignation.

Fortunately NWA's own Board agrees with me and told Doug to shut up and start packing. From today's Wall St. Journal:

...and I intend no disrespect for the great people of NWA. The fact that NWAs' pilots have held it together with a very safe record with all the crap going down over there with junior guys and senior guys at each other's throats is a huge credit to the focus and discipline of the pilot group. If merged with Delta, it would be a very good day to be a North West pilot. A VERY good day indeed.

For a Delta pilot, you have to ask yourself, do I want to work for NorthWest? Pilots have been too passive IMHO. Time to call it what it is and re-evaluate career decisions.