Northwest, Delta to Merge?

In a week of nothing but bad airline news, maybe this is good news. But who knows? Maybe it's a last ditch effort to save two airlines this time. Let's hope it's good news.

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Delta Aims to Unveil Northwest Merger Pact

Delta Air Lines Inc. and Northwest Airlines Corp. may unveil their long-delayed merger announcement as early as Tuesday, said people familiar with the matter, in the latest move by airlines to grapple with high fuel prices and a softening economy.

The deal could value Northwest at roughly $3 billion, these people said, though terms were still being negotiated. That would be well below Northwest's market value of more than $4.6 billion as of Feb. 1, reflecting the industry's worsening prospects in recent weeks. . .

Read more at: Wall Street Journal

Delta to Merge with United or Northwest?

A while back, I posted a piece on a rumored merger between United Airlines and Delta Airlines. At the time, I created a jokey graphic combining the (old) Delta Airlines logo with the United one. Little did I know--now that the merger talks are more than rumors--that what to call the resulting company, and where to base it, are the sticky-wickets in the deal. Of course, if Delta merges with Northwest Airlines, things get more difficult. I don't have a cutesy little graphic for that one!

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What’s in a name? Delta brand is issue in talks
Northwest, United discuss name, where merged airline would be located

A particularly thorny issue for Delta Air Lines Inc. in its talks with United Airlines and Northwest Airlines about a combination with one of the carriers is where the merged company would be based and what it would be called, industry observers say. . .

Read more at: MSNBC