WASHINGTON (Map, News) - The chief executives of Delta Air Lines and Northwest Airlines plan to meet with members of Michigan's congressional delegation to discuss their proposed merger.

Delta CEO Richard Anderson and Northwest CEO Doug Steenland will meet with Michigan lawmakers next Wednesday on Capitol Hill. The airline executives have said their airlines would be stronger together than they are apart.

Northwest is Michigan's largest passenger air carrier and the dominant airline at Detroit Metropolitan Airport.

The meeting will allow the Michigan lawmakers to ask the airlines how the proposed deal would affect airline workers and the Detroit Metro Airport hub.

The airlines have said no hubs will be closed, no large-scale layoffs are planned and that the combination will create roughly $1 billion in cost savings.

Comments from Examiner Readers

12:40 PM MST on Tue., Apr. 15, 2008 re: "Delta, Northwest deal fails to thrill investors, some unions"

Examiner Reader said:
This merger fails to thrill this long-timer NWA Elite passenger as well. Northwest is far from perfect, but unlike most of the majors out there, they haven't engaged in a full-scale war to make the frequent business traveler's life miserable... yet. Given that it seems that Delta is effectively taking over Northwest, I'm not looking forward to some of their more inane policies, like their "anti-sleep" policies of taking away pillows and blankets on domestic flights, showing movies on red-eye flights when people are trying to sleep, or insisting on having their Atlanta hub passenger lounges lit like football stadiums with TV's blaring CNN at max volume at 3:00 AM. Running out of meals and requiring a credit card purchase to play a silly game on the personal video screen are somewhat annoying as well. If the "Delta Way" starts making it's presence felt on Asia flights, I'll start putting more miles on my JAL card.

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9:25 PM MST on Mon., Apr. 14, 2008 re: "Delta, Northwest Agree to Combine"

speedstan said:
The thought of Delta taking over Northwest operations is enough to make me consider changing my frequent flyer alliance. The LAST thing I want is the clueless types at Delta implementing their silly policies on flights to Asia. What's next, $6 for a beer on a flight to Narita and running out of meals because "that's the Delta way"? I think I'm going to throw up...

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1:55 PM MST on Sun., Mar. 30, 2008 re: "Northwest Airlines execs willing to merge without pilot agreement"

Examiner Reader said:
I think a merge without some of the execs will make even a better deal. It's should never be about self, but what's best for everyone.

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