Senator Sherrod Brown

Mr. Richard H. Anderson
Chief Executive Officer
Delta Air Lines
1030 Delta Boulevard
Atlanta, Georgia  30320

Dear Mr. Anderson:

Thank you for informing me of the merger agreement reached by Delta Air Lines and Northwest Airlines yesterday.

I appreciate the challenges posed by fuel price increases, intensified competition, and other market forces.  As Delta confronts these challenges, I hope you will capitalize on the investment Delta has already made in the Cincinnati region.

The fifteen-county Cincinnati metropolitan area, crossing into Indiana and Kentucky, is Ohio's largest, and boasts exceptional interstate commercial connectivity.  Cincinnati has a top ten ranking in the location of Fortune 500 headquarters, and still contains access to affordable land, making it attractive to new and expanding companies.  The Cincinnati USA Partnership, along with local businesses, is actively pursuing economic development opportunities in such areas as biotechnology, advanced manufacturing, aerospace, and chemicals.

Your decision to sustain and increase your presence in Cincinnati would clearly serve your company as well as the city and region.  As you are well aware, the Delta hub at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport helps fuel the region's economy.  A study conducted by the University of Cincinnati Economic Center for Education and Research in 2005 yielded the following conclusions about the economic impact of the Delta hub:

• The hub is responsible for 34,000 airport-related jobs;

• The hub has led to economic development projects resulting in an additional 97,000 jobs;

• In total, the hub is responsible for over 130,000 jobs in the metropolitan statistical area - approximately 13 % of the total number of jobs in the region; and

• The total economic benefit of the hub is approximately $2.85 billion

The Delta hub plays a vital role in regional economic development.  The international service offered at the hub has contributed to the doubling of the number of foreign firms investing in the region since 1999, from approximately 150 to over 300.  This growth is due in large part to the accessibility provided by hub service.  Any significant reduction in the level of service provided by Delta at the airport could have a chilling effect on regional economic development efforts.

I understand that you have indicated that Cincinnati will continue to serve as a hub for Delta flights.  I ask that you document that commitment, which will help alleviate the concerns the merger negotiations have provoked.  I also ask that you work to improve collaboration with your economic development partners in Cincinnati to spur future economic growth in the region.  Specifically, I ask that you work to increase the number of direct international flights, which would benefit the region and your company.  I also urge you to rebuild the Cincinnati reservation center as you combine operations.

Thank you for allowing me to share my thoughts on this issue with you.  I look forward to our upcoming discussion.