North American Airlines, a subsidiary of Global Aero Logistics Inc., is growing its fleet of charter jets just in time for this season's college football bowl games. North American has entered into an agreement with aircraft lessor AerCap Group to take delivery of its sixth Boeing 767-300ER in December 2008.
"This additional B-767 will be used to grow our commercial and military charter business," said Jeff Sanborn, Global's Chief Marketing Officer. "We know there is an annual scramble for air travel by the 68 bowl teams, bands and their fans. Not only are we making sure we have enough aircraft available to fly them to their end zones, but we've enhanced our website to make requesting a charter quote easy to tackle."
In addition to North American's fleet of B-757 and B-767 aircraft, Global is offering DC-10 and MD-11 aircraft for bowl charters from its other airline subsidiary, World Airways.
"From 197 seats to 355; from sports drinks and peanuts to beer and brats; from Honolulu to Miami; North American Airlines and World Airways can provide the right planes and the right service for a winning combination," said Sanborn.
North American Airlines and World Airways operated charter flights to 11 bowl and conference championship games in the 2007-2008 college football season.
Based in Peachtree, GA, Global Aero Logistics is the parent company of North American Airlines and World Airways. North American Airlines, founded in 1989, operates passenger charter flights using B-757 and B-767 aircraft. World Airways, founded in 1948, operates cargo and passenger charter flights using DC-10, MD-11 and B-747-400 aircraft.
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Monday, November 24, 2008
Paramount Airways Started Chennai Pune Operations
Paramount Airways started its third sector in Western India by launching its daily flights from Chennai to Pune. The flight took off from Chennai on 12th Nov at 8.40 pm and landed in Pune Airport at 10.10pm.
Commenting on the Pune launch Mr Thiagarajan, MD, Paramount Airways said, “As part of our expansion strategy we have launched the Chennai - Pune sector today. This we believe will help our foray into the western region and we hope to replicate the success that we have acheived in the Southern market. Being a premium airline, we are certain that Paramount would receive a huge franchise from these key market. This flight would be a convenient and comfortable option for Chennai flyers to Pune.”
The airline has recently launched the Ahmedabad, Goa sectors through the Chennai hub providing connectivity to the Southern markets. The airline has also launched its frequent flyer programe “Paramount Royale”.
Boeing 747 Held at Los Angeles International Airport
An United Airlines flight was temporarily held at Los Angeles International Airport after a passenger fell ill and had to be diagnosed for a possible infectious disease.
City Fire Department spokesman Cecil Manresa said the Boeing 747 jet was held at the gate after arriving from Tokyo around 8 a.m. Sunday. Crew members and 334 passengers were ordered to stay on board while investigators from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention evaluate the 28-year-old male passenger.
Manresa said health officials determined that he suffered from food poisoning or some type of stomach illness.
United Airlines spokesman Jeff Kovick said passengers have been allowed to deplane.
City Fire Department spokesman Cecil Manresa said the Boeing 747 jet was held at the gate after arriving from Tokyo around 8 a.m. Sunday. Crew members and 334 passengers were ordered to stay on board while investigators from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention evaluate the 28-year-old male passenger.
Manresa said health officials determined that he suffered from food poisoning or some type of stomach illness.
United Airlines spokesman Jeff Kovick said passengers have been allowed to deplane.
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Jet Airways Proposes 5-25 % Salary Cut
Nov. 23 Jet Airways proposes to cut salaries of its staff by 5-25 per cent, airline sources said on Sunday. The pay-cut will not be be applicable to all employees drawing less than Rs 25,000 a month and the details will be announced in a week.
The reduction will be according to salary grades; five per cent for those in the Rs 75,000- Rs 2,00,000 bracket, 10 per cent for Rs 2-Rs 5 lakh bracket and 20 per cent for those drawing up to 10 lakh.
For the top management, the pay cut will be 25 per cent.
For pilots, the cut will be up to 20 per cent and the management is working out a separate proposal, sources said.
However, pilots of Indian origin are understood to have told the management that they would not accept the 20 per cent pay cut so long as the airline employs foreign pilots.
At a meeting with Mr Naresh Goyal, the airline’s Chairman, here on Sunday, Indian pilots are understood to have told him to ask expatriate pilots to go before slapping the pay cut, said another source.
Mr Goyal also is said to have rejected a VRS proposal for senior management saying that the airline has no money to offer.
An airline official said the airline management had asked all senior staff to accept a wage cut in view of the current slowdown in the industry and the likely loss of revenue. The high operating cost, coupled with the drop in traffic, has been affecting the profitability of airlines.
Wage cost accounts for 15-20 per cent of the operating costs. The company reported a net loss of Rs 384.53 crore in the second quarter this fiscal.
The airline had sacked around 1,000 employees in October but was forced to reinstate them after two days.
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Midwest Airlines Flight Diverted due to Mechanical Problem
Mechanical problems forced a Midwest Airlines flight from Milwaukee to Washington to divert to a different landing site, and passengers had to wait two hours to get off the plane.
Washington's WTOP Radio reports the flight, headed from Mitchell International to Washington National Airport, had to be diverted to Dulles International Airport.
The plane landed at 1:00 a.m. Monday morning, but passengers had to wait until 3:00 a.m. to leave the jet.
Midwest Airlines typically doesn't fly into Dulles, and spokesman for that airport explained that crews there had to scramble to find enough staff to allow the passengers to depart from the plane.
Washington's WTOP Radio reports the flight, headed from Mitchell International to Washington National Airport, had to be diverted to Dulles International Airport.
The plane landed at 1:00 a.m. Monday morning, but passengers had to wait until 3:00 a.m. to leave the jet.
Midwest Airlines typically doesn't fly into Dulles, and spokesman for that airport explained that crews there had to scramble to find enough staff to allow the passengers to depart from the plane.
Seven Killded and One Survived in BC Plane Crash
A remarkable story of survival is emerging from a plane crash that killed seven people Sunday off British Columbia's Sunshine Coast.
The sole survivor scrambled out of the wreckage just before it burst into flames and, enduring burns to his body, hiked for several hours down a hillside to the waterfront, according to reports. There, wrapped in a yellow sheet, he was able to flag down a coast-guard boat.
The chartered plane, a Grumman Goose flown by Pacific Coastal Airlines, crashed around 10:30 a.m. on remote South Thormanby Island, 35 miles northwest of Vancouver in the Strait of Georgia, said Wayne Bamford, a Canadian coast-guard officer. It had been taking a construction crew from Vancouver International Airport to Powell River, B.C.
It was the second deadly crash for Pacific Coastal since August, when another Grumman Goose went down on Vancouver Island, killing five people. There were two survivors. Pacific Coastal has now decided to temporarily suspend its floatplane operation.
The plane that crashed Sunday was chartered to take construction workers to Plutonic Power's hydroelectric-power plant being built in the area. The main contractor for the project is Peter Kiewit Sons, which is based in Omaha, Neb., and has offices throughout North America, including Seattle.
A Plutonic spokeswoman said her understanding is that all of the victims were Canadian. Families of the victims were being contacted Sunday night.
The rescue crew saw the survivor wave to them, said crew spokesman Drew McKee. The man looked like he was enduring terrible pain.
"His face was burned, his chest was burned, his hands were burned and he had some gashes on his body," McKee said Sunday night.
"He didn't have to fight his way out of the plane, because it was in pieces," McKee said. "He got out, and pretty close to after he got out, the plane went up with a whoomph."
The survivor was "in remarkable shape," given the disaster, said Bamford, the coast-guard officer. He was lucky to make it to the beach to be rescued before fog set in.
The man was taken to a small community hospital at Sechelt and later transferred to Vancouver General Hospital.
There had been no communication from the pilot to indicate anything was amiss, said Spencer Smith, a Pacific Coastal spokesman. The amphibious World War II-era plane was perhaps 60 years old, he said, but had been overhauled last year. According to some reports, conditions for flying were marginal Sunday morning, with thick fog in places.
Plutonic CEO Donald McInnes said 297 people are working at the plant, and crews are rotated in and out three times a day on Grumman Goose planes. He hadn't had concerns about the planes in the past.
Because Pacific Coastal Goose planes have been grounded, McInnes said, workers would be transported for now with boats, helicopters or other types of aircraft.
The sole survivor scrambled out of the wreckage just before it burst into flames and, enduring burns to his body, hiked for several hours down a hillside to the waterfront, according to reports. There, wrapped in a yellow sheet, he was able to flag down a coast-guard boat.
The chartered plane, a Grumman Goose flown by Pacific Coastal Airlines, crashed around 10:30 a.m. on remote South Thormanby Island, 35 miles northwest of Vancouver in the Strait of Georgia, said Wayne Bamford, a Canadian coast-guard officer. It had been taking a construction crew from Vancouver International Airport to Powell River, B.C.
It was the second deadly crash for Pacific Coastal since August, when another Grumman Goose went down on Vancouver Island, killing five people. There were two survivors. Pacific Coastal has now decided to temporarily suspend its floatplane operation.
The plane that crashed Sunday was chartered to take construction workers to Plutonic Power's hydroelectric-power plant being built in the area. The main contractor for the project is Peter Kiewit Sons, which is based in Omaha, Neb., and has offices throughout North America, including Seattle.
A Plutonic spokeswoman said her understanding is that all of the victims were Canadian. Families of the victims were being contacted Sunday night.
The rescue crew saw the survivor wave to them, said crew spokesman Drew McKee. The man looked like he was enduring terrible pain.
"His face was burned, his chest was burned, his hands were burned and he had some gashes on his body," McKee said Sunday night.
"He didn't have to fight his way out of the plane, because it was in pieces," McKee said. "He got out, and pretty close to after he got out, the plane went up with a whoomph."
The survivor was "in remarkable shape," given the disaster, said Bamford, the coast-guard officer. He was lucky to make it to the beach to be rescued before fog set in.
The man was taken to a small community hospital at Sechelt and later transferred to Vancouver General Hospital.
There had been no communication from the pilot to indicate anything was amiss, said Spencer Smith, a Pacific Coastal spokesman. The amphibious World War II-era plane was perhaps 60 years old, he said, but had been overhauled last year. According to some reports, conditions for flying were marginal Sunday morning, with thick fog in places.
Plutonic CEO Donald McInnes said 297 people are working at the plant, and crews are rotated in and out three times a day on Grumman Goose planes. He hadn't had concerns about the planes in the past.
Because Pacific Coastal Goose planes have been grounded, McInnes said, workers would be transported for now with boats, helicopters or other types of aircraft.
Monday, November 17, 2008
Piedmont Airlines Dash-8 Lands with Nose Gear Up
A US Airways Express plane, operated by Piedmont Airlines, made a successful emergency landing at Philadelphia International Airport Sunday morning.Originating in Allentown, PA, Piedmont Flight 4551 had 35 passengers and 3 crewmembers on board. On approach to PHL, the pilots extended the landing gear, but did not get a down and locked indication for the nose gear.
An airport flyover confirmed the Dash-8's nose gear was not down, airport spokeswoman Victoria Lupica said. Airport fire crews then foamed the runway in preparation for the plane's touchdown. As the plane skidded down the runway on its nose, there was no fire, and no injuries were reported, Fox News said.
After landing, passengers were deplaned and shuttled to the terminal by bus. The airport was closed for about 25 minutes, Lupica said. Although the runway was closed until early afternoon, PHL's three other runways remained open. The disruption of activity caused up to three-hour delays of some incoming flights, according to airport officials.
US Airways spokesman Morgan Durant said the cause of the problem is under investigation. The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are also investigating, Lupica said.
Piedmont Airlines, Inc. operates as a US Airways Express carrier and is a wholly owned subsidiary of US Airways, with 440 daily departures to 55 cities throughout the eastern United States and Canada. Their fleet consists of 55 deHavilland DHC-8 turbo prop aircraft.
An airport flyover confirmed the Dash-8's nose gear was not down, airport spokeswoman Victoria Lupica said. Airport fire crews then foamed the runway in preparation for the plane's touchdown. As the plane skidded down the runway on its nose, there was no fire, and no injuries were reported, Fox News said.
After landing, passengers were deplaned and shuttled to the terminal by bus. The airport was closed for about 25 minutes, Lupica said. Although the runway was closed until early afternoon, PHL's three other runways remained open. The disruption of activity caused up to three-hour delays of some incoming flights, according to airport officials.
US Airways spokesman Morgan Durant said the cause of the problem is under investigation. The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are also investigating, Lupica said.
Piedmont Airlines, Inc. operates as a US Airways Express carrier and is a wholly owned subsidiary of US Airways, with 440 daily departures to 55 cities throughout the eastern United States and Canada. Their fleet consists of 55 deHavilland DHC-8 turbo prop aircraft.
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Southwest Airlines Fare Sale
Southwest Airlines announced a nationwide fare sale Tuesday, with a Thursday deadline to purchase.
It appears from Southwest Airlines' Web site that you can travel from Dallas to the far ends of its system for no more than $109, plus taxes and such, depending on the day. Don't expect the cheap fares to still be available around Christmas to Orlando, for example.
The sale is good for travel between Dec. 2 and Feb. 11.
As Tom Parsons of Bestfares.com notes, we haven't seen many fare sales from Southwest lately. It has been nearly six months, he said.
"I have been monitoring Southwest Airlines airfares for over 27 years and have seen Southwest avoid a nationwide airfare sale for about six weeks, usually between Memorial Day through the 4th of July," Mr. Parsons says, "but to hold out on a system-wide airfare sale for almost six months is historical."
It appears from Southwest Airlines' Web site that you can travel from Dallas to the far ends of its system for no more than $109, plus taxes and such, depending on the day. Don't expect the cheap fares to still be available around Christmas to Orlando, for example.
The sale is good for travel between Dec. 2 and Feb. 11.
As Tom Parsons of Bestfares.com notes, we haven't seen many fare sales from Southwest lately. It has been nearly six months, he said.
"I have been monitoring Southwest Airlines airfares for over 27 years and have seen Southwest avoid a nationwide airfare sale for about six weeks, usually between Memorial Day through the 4th of July," Mr. Parsons says, "but to hold out on a system-wide airfare sale for almost six months is historical."
No to Onboard Service Cuttings in the Airlines in India
If there is one area that airlines are refusing to touch even when they are flying low, it is their service offerings.
Some like Vijay Mallya-owned full-services carrier Kingfisher Airlines Ltd and Jeh Wadia’s budget airline GoAir are even introducing new services to boost demand and earnings.
Kingfisher, which is buried under the crushing dues owed to the Airports Authority of India (AAI), aircraft leasing firm GE Commercial Aviation Services (GECAS) and others, is revisiting its plans of serving free meals onboard its value service class Kingfisher Red. After a delay of about a month, Kingfisher will be going ahead with its plans to offer free meals on Kingfisher Red from November 20.
GoAir has also added business class on all its flights, where some rows will have two seats occupied on either side of the aisle even though there will be three seats per row.
This goes against the true low-cost airline model, which permits only economy seats on all flights. The fares for the business class seats, which will be branded as GoComfort, will be higher than for the other seats.
Others like Jet Airways, JetLite, SpiceJet and IndiGo may not be adding new frills but they are not even trimming them. A spokeswoman for full-services airline Jet Airways said, “Our services will continue to be what they were, whenever they were introduced.”
Kingfisher’s plan to serve snacks on its aircraft was deferred “due to logistics issues on the ground with external stakeholders,” said the full-services carrier’s spokesperson. In September, Kingfisher Airlines had announced that it would start serving free meals on Kingfisher Red (erstwhile Air Deccan and Simplify Deccan) from October. “We had some issue with the packers,” said a Kingfisher Airlines executive, who did not wish to be named. He said that the airline would not charge anything for the meals that would be served on the flight.
Some like Vijay Mallya-owned full-services carrier Kingfisher Airlines Ltd and Jeh Wadia’s budget airline GoAir are even introducing new services to boost demand and earnings.
Kingfisher, which is buried under the crushing dues owed to the Airports Authority of India (AAI), aircraft leasing firm GE Commercial Aviation Services (GECAS) and others, is revisiting its plans of serving free meals onboard its value service class Kingfisher Red. After a delay of about a month, Kingfisher will be going ahead with its plans to offer free meals on Kingfisher Red from November 20.
GoAir has also added business class on all its flights, where some rows will have two seats occupied on either side of the aisle even though there will be three seats per row.
This goes against the true low-cost airline model, which permits only economy seats on all flights. The fares for the business class seats, which will be branded as GoComfort, will be higher than for the other seats.
Others like Jet Airways, JetLite, SpiceJet and IndiGo may not be adding new frills but they are not even trimming them. A spokeswoman for full-services airline Jet Airways said, “Our services will continue to be what they were, whenever they were introduced.”
Kingfisher’s plan to serve snacks on its aircraft was deferred “due to logistics issues on the ground with external stakeholders,” said the full-services carrier’s spokesperson. In September, Kingfisher Airlines had announced that it would start serving free meals on Kingfisher Red (erstwhile Air Deccan and Simplify Deccan) from October. “We had some issue with the packers,” said a Kingfisher Airlines executive, who did not wish to be named. He said that the airline would not charge anything for the meals that would be served on the flight.
Jet Airways Introduced Special Fares to Europe
Jet Airways has introduced special fares to several destinations across Europe, via its European hub in Brussels, and London, over the Winter holiday season. The special fares, in association with Jet Airways’ interline partner carriers, is valid for sale and travel with immediate effect.
Jet Airways operates daily services to Brussels and London using its Airbus 330-200 and Boeing 777-300ER aircraft.
The airline flies daily to Brussels from four gateway points in India: Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Bengaluru. These fares may also be availed of by Jet Airways’ Delhi/Mumbai passengers travelling to London Heathrow.
Jet Airways operates daily services to Brussels and London using its Airbus 330-200 and Boeing 777-300ER aircraft.
The airline flies daily to Brussels from four gateway points in India: Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Bengaluru. These fares may also be availed of by Jet Airways’ Delhi/Mumbai passengers travelling to London Heathrow.
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Jet Airways Airhostess Fell Down on the Tarmac
An airhostess fell down on the tarmac from the Jet Airways aircraft while she was closing its door but escaped with minor injuries.
After the passengers were seated and instruction from the pilot,the airhostess was closing the door of the Mumbai-bound plane on Friday morning when she slipped and fell down from the plane, an airlines official said on Saturday.
She has been taken to the Indian Spinal Injuries Centre at Vasant Kunj, from where she was released after treatment, she said, adding since it was a Boeing aircraft, which are not very high from the ground, she did not receive serious injuries.
The best treatment has been given toher and the expense was borne by the airlines, the official said. The airlines fraternity does not term this incident as uncommon. Since we have to perform our duties wearing high heels, there are chances that we trip, said an airhostess.
After the passengers were seated and instruction from the pilot,the airhostess was closing the door of the Mumbai-bound plane on Friday morning when she slipped and fell down from the plane, an airlines official said on Saturday.
She has been taken to the Indian Spinal Injuries Centre at Vasant Kunj, from where she was released after treatment, she said, adding since it was a Boeing aircraft, which are not very high from the ground, she did not receive serious injuries.
The best treatment has been given toher and the expense was borne by the airlines, the official said. The airlines fraternity does not term this incident as uncommon. Since we have to perform our duties wearing high heels, there are chances that we trip, said an airhostess.
Inauguration of Mumbai International Airport New Taxiway
The new taxiway N9, Mumbai International Airport has been inaugurated on 01-Nov-08. The location of this taxiway has been designed (located at 2614m from the threshold of runway 09-27) to facilitate all wide-body aircraft to vacate the runway after landing.
N9 would be the first compliant taxiway for Code-F aircraft (such as A-380 and others alike) at CSIA that requires the width of the taxiway to be 25 mtrs and shoulders 17.5 m on each side. Its length is 180m.
The first flight to utilise this taxiway was a British Airways 119 flight from London, a Boeing 777-200 aircraft with Rgn No.GV-IIF at 11.40 hours on 01-Nov-08. With the two rapid exit taxiways, the extended parallel taxiway A4 and taxiway N9 in place, runway occupancy time for aircraft landing and taking off, is likely to be reduced.
N9 would be the first compliant taxiway for Code-F aircraft (such as A-380 and others alike) at CSIA that requires the width of the taxiway to be 25 mtrs and shoulders 17.5 m on each side. Its length is 180m.
The first flight to utilise this taxiway was a British Airways 119 flight from London, a Boeing 777-200 aircraft with Rgn No.GV-IIF at 11.40 hours on 01-Nov-08. With the two rapid exit taxiways, the extended parallel taxiway A4 and taxiway N9 in place, runway occupancy time for aircraft landing and taking off, is likely to be reduced.
Introduction of New Russian-made TU-204 Cargo Plane.
Nov 7 (acn) Cubana de Aviacion airline made the commercial introduction of its new Russian-made TU-204 cargo plane.
Cubana Vice-president Barbara Barrios, along Cuba Cargo’s director, explained that the presentation is part of activities related to the 2008 Havana International Trade Fair (FIHAV), which allows Cuban companies learn more about the export-import capabilities of the airline.
Several representatives from local companies observed the TU-204 cargo plane in Terminal 5 of Jose Marti International Airport. The plane can carry up to 27 tons in its hold, and will service Caribbean and Central American routes.
In statements to the ACN news agency, Barrios announced the purchase of another similar plane that will allow the country to save on the chartering and leasing of planes.
Barrios pointed out that Cuba’s main airline has recently added to its fleet three Russian IL-96 passenger planes, mainly for flights to and from Europe, and two TU-204 planes for shorter flights to Latin America and the Caribbea
Cubana Vice-president Barbara Barrios, along Cuba Cargo’s director, explained that the presentation is part of activities related to the 2008 Havana International Trade Fair (FIHAV), which allows Cuban companies learn more about the export-import capabilities of the airline.
Several representatives from local companies observed the TU-204 cargo plane in Terminal 5 of Jose Marti International Airport. The plane can carry up to 27 tons in its hold, and will service Caribbean and Central American routes.
In statements to the ACN news agency, Barrios announced the purchase of another similar plane that will allow the country to save on the chartering and leasing of planes.
Barrios pointed out that Cuba’s main airline has recently added to its fleet three Russian IL-96 passenger planes, mainly for flights to and from Europe, and two TU-204 planes for shorter flights to Latin America and the Caribbea
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Air Arabia started daily service to Hyderabad
From 27-Oct-08 Air Arabia started daily service to Hyderabad, India from the carrier’s main hub in Sharjah, UAE. The launch of this new destination coincides with the carrier’s fifth anniversary celebrations.
The carrier announced that Hyderabad will be its 44th global destination and its 12th in India. As part of the five-year festivities, Air Arabia announced earlier this month, a promotional scheme by offering its passengers free flights on the carrier’s fifth anniversary day, 28-Oct-08, to any destination on the airlines’ network. The carrier made over 12,500 free seats available to its passengers, all of which sold out prior to 28-Oct-08. The anniversary period will culminate on 31-Oct-08.
Air Arabia will fly to Hyderabad daily, departing Sharjah at 12:20AM and arriving at Hyderabad at 5:30AM. Return flights will depart Hyderabad at 6:15AM and arrive in Sharjah at 8:40AM.
The carrier announced that Hyderabad will be its 44th global destination and its 12th in India. As part of the five-year festivities, Air Arabia announced earlier this month, a promotional scheme by offering its passengers free flights on the carrier’s fifth anniversary day, 28-Oct-08, to any destination on the airlines’ network. The carrier made over 12,500 free seats available to its passengers, all of which sold out prior to 28-Oct-08. The anniversary period will culminate on 31-Oct-08.
Air Arabia will fly to Hyderabad daily, departing Sharjah at 12:20AM and arriving at Hyderabad at 5:30AM. Return flights will depart Hyderabad at 6:15AM and arrive in Sharjah at 8:40AM.
Merging of Delta, Northwest Airlines
Having received approval from both the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Atlanta-based Delta Airlines announced yesterday that it has merged with Eagan, Minn.-based Northwest Airlines. Long expected, the merger between the nation's third and fifth largest airlines will create a "premier global airline" under the Delta moniker, according to Delta, which said it will integrate Northwest and its customers into the Delta system gradually over the course of the next 12 to 24 months.
"The airline industry faces a very difficult economic environment around the world and this merger gives Delta increased flexibility to adapt to the economic challenges ahead," Delta CEO Richard Anderson said in a statement. "With much of the work to bring our airlines together well under way, the new Delta will be at the front of the pack in achieving the benefits of consolidation and is well positioned to navigate the tough waters ahead in a difficult economy."
News of a rumored merger between Delta and Northwest broke as early as summer 2007, when Anderson took the helm at Delta. It became official, however, in April of this year, when the companies formally announced the massive amalgamation.
Stakeholders in both airlines approved the merger last month, as did the FAA. The transaction's final regulatory hurdle was the DOJ, which announced yesterday that its Antitrust Division had completed a six-month investigation into the companies and their intentions.
In the statement, the division concluded that the merger would help—not hurt—U.S. air travel: "After a thorough, six-month investigation, during which the division obtained extensive information from a wide range of market participants—including the companies, other airlines, corporate customers and travel agents—the division has determined that the proposed merger between Delta and Northwest is likely to produce substantial and credible efficiencies that will benefit U.S. consumers and is not likely to substantially lessen competition."
Although Northwest is now a wholly owned subsidiary of Delta, Delta plans to maintain the airlines' separate Web sites, operations and customer loyalty programs for the immediate future. In 2009, however, it will launch a fully consolidated worldwide flight schedule, integrate the Delta and Northwest brands, consolidate the airlines' loyalty programs and fully integrate their Web sites, kiosks and other customer-facing technology.
"This is a different type of merger for the industry thanks to the complementary nature of the two airlines and the caliber of the people who will make this the most successful merger in airline history," said Delta President and Chief Financial Officer Edward Bastian, who is now also president and CEO of Northwest Airlines.
For more information about the new Delta, which will serve customers in 66 countries and more than 375 cities.
"The airline industry faces a very difficult economic environment around the world and this merger gives Delta increased flexibility to adapt to the economic challenges ahead," Delta CEO Richard Anderson said in a statement. "With much of the work to bring our airlines together well under way, the new Delta will be at the front of the pack in achieving the benefits of consolidation and is well positioned to navigate the tough waters ahead in a difficult economy."
News of a rumored merger between Delta and Northwest broke as early as summer 2007, when Anderson took the helm at Delta. It became official, however, in April of this year, when the companies formally announced the massive amalgamation.
Stakeholders in both airlines approved the merger last month, as did the FAA. The transaction's final regulatory hurdle was the DOJ, which announced yesterday that its Antitrust Division had completed a six-month investigation into the companies and their intentions.
In the statement, the division concluded that the merger would help—not hurt—U.S. air travel: "After a thorough, six-month investigation, during which the division obtained extensive information from a wide range of market participants—including the companies, other airlines, corporate customers and travel agents—the division has determined that the proposed merger between Delta and Northwest is likely to produce substantial and credible efficiencies that will benefit U.S. consumers and is not likely to substantially lessen competition."
Although Northwest is now a wholly owned subsidiary of Delta, Delta plans to maintain the airlines' separate Web sites, operations and customer loyalty programs for the immediate future. In 2009, however, it will launch a fully consolidated worldwide flight schedule, integrate the Delta and Northwest brands, consolidate the airlines' loyalty programs and fully integrate their Web sites, kiosks and other customer-facing technology.
"This is a different type of merger for the industry thanks to the complementary nature of the two airlines and the caliber of the people who will make this the most successful merger in airline history," said Delta President and Chief Financial Officer Edward Bastian, who is now also president and CEO of Northwest Airlines.
For more information about the new Delta, which will serve customers in 66 countries and more than 375 cities.
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