Customer, Communities to Benefit From Delta Northwest Merger

The Delta and Northwest merger will offer customers and communities direct service between the United States and the world's major business centers. Specific benefits include:

• 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 largest frequent flyer program.
• The merged airline will maintain all hubs at Atlanta, Cincinnati, Detroit, Memphis, Minneapolis/St. Paul, New York-JFK, Salt Lake City, Amsterdam and Tokyo-Narita – each of which will benefit from improved global connectivity.
• Delta customers will benefit from Northwest’s extensive service to Asian markets and Northwest’s customers will have access to Delta’s strengths across the Caribbean, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
• Both airlines’ customers will benefit from a strengthened SkyTeam alliance that more closely aligns the combined airline with its respective trans-Atlantic partners Air France and KLM.

Customers also will benefit from the combined carrier’s financial stability. The merger creates one of the strongest balance sheets among major U.S. airlines, permitting the combined airline to invest in its fleet and services to enhance the customer experience. For instance:

• The combination will accelerate the upgrading of existing international aircraft with lie-flat seats and personal on-demand entertainment.
• The combined company will have the opportunity to exercise options for delivery of up to 20 widebody jets between 2010 and 2013 to provide more international service than ever before.

The combined company also will be able to improve customers’ travel experience through new products and services, including enhanced self-service tools, better bag-tracking technology, new seats and refurbished cabin interiors.

No hub closures; improved international access to benefit small communities
This combination will expand Delta’s international and domestic reach, and there will be no reductions in the number of hubs.

In addition, building on both airlines’ proud, decades-long history of serving small communities, Delta will improve worldwide connections to small towns and cities across the U.S., enhancing their access to the global marketplace. Following the merger, Delta will serve more than 140 small communities in the United States – more than any other airline.

Delta and Northwest are an excellent strategic fit, with complementary and geographically distinct route systems,” said Edward Bastian, Delta president and chief financial officer. “Together, we will have a more robust platform for profitable international growth. Combining both carriers’ international and domestic strengths, with our worldwide SkyTeam partners, we are well positioned to lead the industry and deliver value to our shareholders.”