2008 Woodie Awards
Delta, Northwest airlines to announce combination deal, pilot issues still linger
By: THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Issue date: 4/15/08 Section: Nation
ATLANTA - Northwest pilots have threatened to oppose a combination with Delta if the decision-makers don't keep the pilots' interests in mind. That may not be enough to stop the carriers from pushing ahead with a deal.
Officials were mobilizing for an announcement as early as today provided the boards of the two companies give final approval to a deal that would create the world's biggest airline, three people familiar with the talks said Sunday.
Pilot contract issues still loomed and there was no guarantee the deal would move ahead, said the people, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the situation.
The boards of both companies have been having ongoing merger-related conversations. They could meet yesterday to discuss moving ahead with a deal, a person familiar with the talks said.
Northwest pilot union leaders met Sunday in Minnesota. Afterward, they issued a memo to rank-and-file pilots saying they will oppose any merger that does not keep the interests of Northwest pilots "at the forefront of the decision-making process."
The union leaders said any combination must involve "fair and equitable seniority list integration."
It was increasingly likely the two airlines would proceed without a prearranged seniority integration agreement between their pilots unions, so the main issue that remained was whether Delta pilots were willing to make changes to their contract to give Delta more flexibility after a combination, one of the people familiar with the talks said.
Officials were mobilizing for an announcement as early as today provided the boards of the two companies give final approval to a deal that would create the world's biggest airline, three people familiar with the talks said Sunday.
Pilot contract issues still loomed and there was no guarantee the deal would move ahead, said the people, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the situation.
The boards of both companies have been having ongoing merger-related conversations. They could meet yesterday to discuss moving ahead with a deal, a person familiar with the talks said.
Northwest pilot union leaders met Sunday in Minnesota. Afterward, they issued a memo to rank-and-file pilots saying they will oppose any merger that does not keep the interests of Northwest pilots "at the forefront of the decision-making process."
The union leaders said any combination must involve "fair and equitable seniority list integration."
It was increasingly likely the two airlines would proceed without a prearranged seniority integration agreement between their pilots unions, so the main issue that remained was whether Delta pilots were willing to make changes to their contract to give Delta more flexibility after a combination, one of the people familiar with the talks said.
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