Shareholders from both [[Delta Air Lines | Delta]] and [[Northwest Airlines | Northwest]] voted on September 25 to approve the two airlines’ proposed merger. Each airline’s shareholders offered nearly unanimous support for the tie-up. So what’s next on the agenda? The airlines must receive regulatory approval from the Department of Justice, which will look at the numerous antitrust concerns surrounding this deal. There’s also a pending lawsuit, filed against the merger in an effort to kill it.
Assuming the merger passes these tests, the idea of a combined carrier could become a reality quicker than we think. With that, it’s worth wondering whether or not the resulting mega-airline will actually be good for customers. Over at the Wall Street Journal’s Middle Seat Terminal blog, it’s noted that Cincinnati, in particular, may take see a sharp drop-off in flights, and a corresponding spike in prices. The airport is a major hub for Delta, so previously competing Northwest routes will likely be dropped.
A large part of the reasoning behind this deal has always been the two airlines’ complimentary schedules which, at the level of a global route network, have little overlap. However, the Cincinnati case suggests we could see route consolidation at each airline’s hubs, which include [[Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport – MSP | Minneapolis/St. Paul]], [[Detroit Metro Wayne County Airport – DTW | Detroit]], and [[Memphis Airport – MEM | Memphis]] for Northwest, and Cincinnati, [[New York John F. Kennedy Airport – JFK | New York]], [[Atlanta Hartsfield Airport – ATL | Atlanta]], [[Los Angeles International Airport – LAX | Los Angeles]], and [[Salt Lake City Airport – SLC | Salt Lake City]] for Delta.
We hand-pick everything we recommend and select items through testing and reviews. Some products are sent to us free of charge with no incentive to offer a favorable review. We offer our unbiased opinions and do not accept compensation to review products. All items are in stock and prices are accurate at the time of publication. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission.
Related
Top Fares From
Today's Top Travel Deals
Brought to you by ShermansTravel
Black Friday Sale: 6-Night India Tour,...
Exoticca
vacation $1599+Amsterdam to Copenhagen: Luxe, 18-Night Northern...
Regent Seven Seas Cruises
cruise $12399+Ohio: Daily Car Rentals from Cincinnati
85OFF.com
Car Rental $19+