At a conference Tuesday, the CEO of Delta Air Lines Inc. told investors that there's room in the airline industry for more consolidation.

"If a transaction were to occur, economics should prevail," CEO Richard Anderson said, according to The Associated Press. "I think the case can be made ultimately, but it remains to be seen what this administration's take will be."

Delta, the world's biggest airline, bought Northwest Airlines last year. Since then there has been no additional consolidation in the industry.

"Some analysts have speculated in the past that Alaska Air Group Inc. or JetBlue Airways Corp. could be appealing targets for Delta," AP writes. "There also has been talk in recent years of possible combinations between Continental Airlines Inc. and United Airlines and between American Airlines and US Airways Group Inc."

Since its merger, Delta has focused on expanding through alliances. The airline currently has a joint venture with Air France-KLM and is working to bring Japan Airlines into the SkyTeam alliance. --Rebecca Heslin




Wasn't aware DAL was interested in JBU

 

Oh there was some interest and it comes up now and then, but in reality it is a far third.

I see Alaska and then maybe Hawaiian

 

No offense to you Delta types. I used to commute on Delta a LOT and really like the crews. But, I hope ALK never ever "merges" with DAL. It might work out well for you, but it wouldn't be so good for us, especially our furloughed pilots.

 

I don't know if I can take another merger now either... It's been at the top of the possibility list ever since I was in newhire class, though.

 

I think it would stink for us too, but we do not control mergers.

I bet we see it about the time UAUA and CAL start their official courtship.

 

Their lengthy secret love affair comes to an end and they announce their engagement, you mean.

I am reminded of an episode of Dilbert...

 

why is that?

 

because furloughed guys invariably get stapled to the bottom.

 

I assume he's referring to the fact that furloughees usually don't fare too well in a merger or aquisition, especially if the other carrier has no furloughees. They often (maybe always) end up stapled.

I'm with 80kts, I would not be at all surprised to see this move made at some point (or at least attempted), but I could personally do without the drama for a while.

 

I understand the staple issue but this doesn't seem like a usair type of issue. The most senior furloughed pilot is a 2006 hire. Do they have crazy retirements (when they kick in) in the near future. I would assume there are other issues. ie maybe they're natives of seattle with a fear of getting kicked out.