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Delta: Say so long to NWA airline HQ

Atlanta a lock as base after merger, CFO tells Minnesota lawmakers

Article Last Updated: 05/05/2008 11:57:46 PM CDT

Northwest Airlines employees listen in the gallery of a hearing room as Ed Bastian, president and Chief Financial Officer for Delta Airlines, testifies Monday, May 5, 2008 in St. Paul, Minn., before a Minnesota House committee on the impact of the proposed merger between Delta and Northwest Airlines. Bastian is telling Minnesota lawmakers there's nothing they can do that would keep a merged Delta-Northwest headquarters in Minnesota. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)

Some Atlanta jobs could be bound for the Twin Cities. And when it comes to integrating union and nonunion workers, Delta Air Lines will "respect the process" that federal rules lay out.

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Congress Expresses Airline Merger Concerns

After intense lobbying efforts by the Machinists Union, 47 Members of Congress wrote to the U.S. Attorney General and Secretary of Transportation questioning if airline consolidation is good for America.

Illinois Congressman Daniel Lipinski (D) and Ohio Congressman Steven LaTourette (R) led the campaign within Congress to gain co-signers for the letter. The complete letter and list of co-signers is available here.

“Airline executives who are seeking mergers threaten more than just their own employees,” said General Vice President Robert Roach, Jr. “A merger between two major airlines will have a ripple effect prompting other mergers. Smaller carriers like Air Tran, JetBlue and Southwest are rumored to be willing to jump into the merger pool. Additionally, thousands of workers at vendors who support the airlines can also lose jobs when hubs close and capacity is reduced.
Letter to the U.S. Attorney General and Secretary of Transportation