Delta becomes largest airline in the world!

Michael · 04-14-2008, 10:14 PM

Delta, with the approval of the US government, will become the largest airline to fly.
Delta has approved to merge with Northwest doing away with the Northwest name and being based in Atlanta.
Here is some more news:
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Beemer B773ER · 04-15-2008, 02:33 AM

I have to say this is great news!! Finally some of the US airline's are starting to think straight and accept that they all can't co-exist and strive forward in terms of profitability.

I'm looking forward to seeing how this 'merger' pans out. Delta have just received 2 772LR's, and NW has ordered 20 or so 787s...so there's good things to come out of this merger.

Mikael · 04-15-2008, 12:16 PM

Unsurprising to say the least. The talks between major American carriers have been going on for so long that something was about to happen sooner or later.

It's an interesting combination. Delta has all-Boeing fleet while roughly half of the Northwest fleet is comprised of Airbus planes. No 737s, 767s or 777s at NWA. Delta's burden is the huge fleet of old MD-88s/-90s and Northwest has even older DC-9s (largest DC-9 operator in the world). The two companies seem to complement each other on routes, hubs and equipment.

Beemer B773ER · 04-15-2008, 08:43 PM

Good point Mikael. What they do in terms of merging the two fleets will be quite interesting to say the least!

DL uses 737s, NW uses A320s
DL uses 767s, NW uses A330s

..the battle for which aircraft will be the aircraft of choice in these two size-segments will be fascinating to watch, unless they decide to let the differing fleets co-exist instead of simplifying.

DL continue to invest in the 777, while NW have invested in the 787. NW also have an aging fleet of 744s which will need replacing soon enough. Maybe an order for 777-300ERs since the 77W offers better economics than the Jumbo... or maybe an order for the 747-8i as direct 744 replacements.

Both airline's had a fairly similar business model, so that shouldn't be an issue with the new Delta Airlines.

Maybe now with merger completed, UA and CO will now get back to their merger negotiations.

It's a little weird now to officially say that American Airline's is no longer the largest airline in the world in terms of fleet-size.

The Diva · 04-15-2008, 10:06 PM

Hah! I had my suspicions once I was told I could use my Delta Sky Miles and Northwest miles back and forth!

Now, if American, AirTran, Continental, United and Jet Blue merge I'd have enough miles to go to the MOON

Will it happen? Can it happen?

United we stand.. divided we fall? ( no pun intended)

450SEL6.9 · 04-18-2008, 01:00 PM

These mergers don't change the fact that the U.S. airline business is a lousy business. The way they are run, the competition, fare wars, low barriers to entry, smaller players coming and going, favorable bankruptcy laws, unions, etc . . . all contribute to the undesirability of the American airline industry.

If anyone is interested, read about the Asian airlines business and contrast it with what goes on in America. The difference is like night and day.

04-14-2008, 10:14 PM	#1 (permalink)
Michael Super Moderator Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Florida Posts: 3,248 Thanks: 247 Thanked 340 Times in 205 Posts	Delta becomes largest airline in the world! Delta, with the approval of the US government, will become the largest airline to fly. Delta has approved to merge with Northwest doing away with the Northwest name and being based in Atlanta. Here is some more news: - ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

04-15-2008, 02:33 AM	#2 (permalink)
Beemer B773ER Advocate Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 904 Thanks: 92 Thanked 202 Times in 96 Posts	Re: Delta becomes largest airline in the world! I have to say this is great news!! Finally some of the US airline's are starting to think straight and accept that they all can't co-exist and strive forward in terms of profitability. I'm looking forward to seeing how this 'merger' pans out. Delta have just received 2 772LR's, and NW has ordered 20 or so 787s...so there's good things to come out of this merger.

04-15-2008, 12:16 PM	#3 (permalink)
Mikael Global Moderator Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 1,868 Thanks: 796 Thanked 343 Times in 214 Posts	Re: Delta becomes largest airline in the world! Unsurprising to say the least. The talks between major American carriers have been going on for so long that something was about to happen sooner or later. It's an interesting combination. Delta has all-Boeing fleet while roughly half of the Northwest fleet is comprised of Airbus planes. No 737s, 767s or 777s at NWA. Delta's burden is the huge fleet of old MD-88s/-90s and Northwest has even older DC-9s (largest DC-9 operator in the world). The two companies seem to complement each other on routes, hubs and equipment.

04-15-2008, 08:43 PM	#4 (permalink)
Beemer B773ER Advocate Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 904 Thanks: 92 Thanked 202 Times in 96 Posts	Re: Delta becomes largest airline in the world! Good point Mikael. What they do in terms of merging the two fleets will be quite interesting to say the least! DL uses 737s, NW uses A320s DL uses 767s, NW uses A330s ..the battle for which aircraft will be the aircraft of choice in these two size-segments will be fascinating to watch, unless they decide to let the differing fleets co-exist instead of simplifying. DL continue to invest in the 777, while NW have invested in the 787. NW also have an aging fleet of 744s which will need replacing soon enough. Maybe an order for 777-300ERs since the 77W offers better economics than the Jumbo... or maybe an order for the 747-8i as direct 744 replacements. Both airline's had a fairly similar business model, so that shouldn't be an issue with the new Delta Airlines. Maybe now with merger completed, UA and CO will now get back to their merger negotiations. It's a little weird now to officially say that American Airline's is no longer the largest airline in the world in terms of fleet-size.

04-15-2008, 10:06 PM	#5 (permalink)
The Diva Master Shopper Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Tampa Bay Posts: 781 My Mood: Thanks: 754 Thanked 680 Times in 337 Posts Blog Entries: 2	Re: Delta becomes largest airline in the world! Hah! I had my suspicions once I was told I could use my Delta Sky Miles and Northwest miles back and forth! Now, if American, AirTran, Continental, United and Jet Blue merge I'd have enough miles to go to the MOON Will it happen? Can it happen? United we stand.. divided we fall? ( no pun intended)

04-18-2008, 01:00 PM	#6 (permalink)
450SEL6.9 Inactive Account Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 825 My Mood: Thanks: 57 Thanked 60 Times in 54 Posts	Re: Delta becomes largest airline in the world! These mergers don't change the fact that the U.S. airline business is a lousy business. The way they are run, the competition, fare wars, low barriers to entry, smaller players coming and going, favorable bankruptcy laws, unions, etc . . . all contribute to the undesirability of the American airline industry. If anyone is interested, read about the Asian airlines business and contrast it with what goes on in America. The difference is like night and day.

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