Goodbye to Northwest as a brand, the ‘merger’ seems to be evident now…
As a valued Northwest Airlines customer and WorldPerks® member, I wanted you to be among the first to hear that we have announced a merger with Delta Air Lines. Subject to regulatory review, our two airlines are joining forces to create America’s premier global airline which, upon closing of the merger, will be called Delta Air Lines.
By combining Northwest and Delta, we are building a stronger, more resilient airline that will be a leader in providing customer service and value. Our combined airline will offer unprecedented access to the world, enabling you to fly to more destinations, have more flight choices and more ways than ever to earn and redeem your WorldPerks miles.
You can be assured that your WorldPerks miles and Elite program status will be unaffected by this merger. In addition, you can continue to earn miles through use of partners like WorldPerks Visa®. And once the new Delta Air Lines emerges you can look forward to
being a part of the world’s largest frequent flyer program with expanded benefits.The combined Delta Air Lines will serve more U.S. communities and connect to more worldwide destinations than any global airline. Our hubs – both Delta’s and Northwest’s – will be retained and enhanced. We will be the only U.S. airline to offer direct service from the United States to all of the world’s major business centers in Asia, Latin America, Europe, Africa and around North America.
Both airlines bring tremendous strengths to this new partnership. Our complementary service networks form an end-to-end system that is truly greater than the sum of its parts. This is a merger by addition, not subtraction, which means all of our hubs – both Northwest’s and Delta’s – will be retained. In addition, building on both airlines’ proud, decades-long history of serving small
communities, we plan to enhance global connections to small towns and cities across the U.S.All of these positive benefits of our combination mean that we can:
Offer a true global network where our customers will be able to fly to more destinations, have more schedule options and more opportunities to earn and redeem frequent flyer miles in what will
become the world’s best and most comprehensive frequent flyer program.Continue to serve our current roster of destinations and to maintain our hubs in Atlanta, Cincinnati, Detroit, Memphis, Minneapolis/St. Paul, New York, Salt Lake City, Amsterdam and Tokyo.
Improve our customers’ travel experience, through new products and services including enhanced self-service tools, better bag-tracking technology, more onboard services, including more meal options, new seats and refurbished cabins.
While we work to secure approval of our merger, which may take up to 6 to 8 months, it will be business-as-usual at both airlines. We will continue to operate as independent airlines and the people of Northwest will remain focused on providing you with the very best in safe, reliable and convenient air travel. At the same time, both airlines will be planning for a seamless integration of our two airlines, one that delivers to you the enhanced benefits that will earn – and retain – your preference.
As we work through this process, we will keep you informed at every step along the way. Thank you for your business and we look forward to serving you on your next Northwest flight.
Sincerely,
Bob Soukup
Managing Director, WorldPerks
By: black kettle - 25th April 2008 at 07:44
A bit like British Midland the Northwest name had historical regional connotations whereas Delta is a “global” name that an airline anywhere could theoretically use added to which,prior to the last 10-15 years,Delta would have been seen as the best US airline by far even if Pan Am and TWA were better known.Indeed,I’ve never understood how they’ve fallen so far financially except,perhaps,they’ve not had the International OR domestic route structure that those in “alliances” have built up.
B
By: steve rowell - 25th April 2008 at 07:30
I wonder if Delta cabin crews will be sent to Northwest for “rude” training?:D
Let’s hope they get some younger cabin crews
By: Hand87_5 - 21st April 2008 at 08:53
Will Delta now become a major Airbus customer/operator? Or will they quietly get rid of the A330s and 319s in the next couple of years?
Well , they quietly got rid of PanAm’s A310’s.
I remember flying Cincinatti-CDG on an A310 back in 93-94.
DL is definitly a Boeing customer.
By: Flying-A - 21st April 2008 at 04:10
Delta seems to have a fondness for buying airlines with directional names: Northeast, Western, and (via Republic) North Central, Southern, and Hughes Airwest.
By the way, a merger is when one company buys out another and the latter ceases to legally exist. Shareholders of the bought company receive shares of the buyer. A consolidation — much rarer — is when two existing companies combine to form a new one. Shareholders of the two companies receive shares of the new one.
By: Ren Frew - 20th April 2008 at 21:25
This seems to me an “absorbtion” rather than a “merger”. No more Northwest.
Seems to be the way of things these days… Thomas Cook/My Travel becomes Thomas Cook, Thomson/First Choice becomes Thomson. I’d like to know the marketing strategy behind it…?
Thomson/First Choice could have become ‘Britannia’ or something eh… ? :rolleyes:
By: hawkdriver05 - 20th April 2008 at 16:36
Will Delta now become a major Airbus customer/operator? Or will they quietly get rid of the A330s and 319s in the next couple of years?
By: hawkdriver05 - 16th April 2008 at 00:36
This seems to me an “absorbtion” rather than a “merger”. No more Northwest.
By: J Boyle - 15th April 2008 at 18:24
I wonder if Delta cabin crews will be sent to Northwest for “rude” training?:D
I wonder why they’re keeping the Delta name and not Northwest?
Could it be beacuse of opinions like mine regarding their service…and a lousy
reputation concerning employee labor relations?
By: Manston Airport - 15th April 2008 at 14:21
This is sad news to 🙁 farewell Northwest airline , Does this mean we will see Delta Airlines with the A330 😎
James
By: Ren Frew - 15th April 2008 at 11:19
What will the “new” airline be called?
“As a valued Northwest Airlines customer and WorldPerks® member, I wanted you to be among the first to hear that we have announced a merger with Delta Air Lines. Subject to regulatory review, our two airlines are joining forces to create America’s premier global airline which, upon closing of the merger, will be called Delta Air Lines.”
By: hawkdriver05 - 15th April 2008 at 10:19
What will the “new” airline be called?
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April 15, 2008 at 2:21 am