| |
 |
| October 29th, 2008 |
|
Media Contact(s): Mark Eddington, 202-224-5251 |
|
Printable Version |
|
|
HATCH AGREES WITH JUSTICE DEPARTMENT'S OK OF DELTA-NORTHWEST MERGER
|
| |
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) agrees with the Justice Department's decision today to allow the merger between Delta and Northwest Airlines.
Hatch, who examined the proposed merger in April as the ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee's Antitrust Committee, called the U.S. Department of Justice's decision a good one.
"Under this agreement, I believe the Salt Lake City hub has a great opportunity to survive and thrive." Hatch said. "The merger may also open possibilities for the hub's growth into the Asian market.
“Northwest currently is only one of two American air carriers permitted by bilateral agreement to fly to Tokyo,” Hatch continued. “Since Northwest does not have any hubs in the western part of the United States, this merger could open up traffic to and from Asia to Delta's Salt Lake City hub. This would provide added convenience and opportunities for air travelers in the West."
Hatch also agrees with the Department of Justice that the merger should not run afoul of our nation's antitrust laws.
The merger should result in only 12 nonstop domestic “city pair” overlaps. City pair overlaps are defined as those locations that both Delta and Northwest currently offer flights between. Of the 12 overlaps, only four city pair overlaps will be reduced to a single carrier providing nonstop service. Delta has argued before the subcommittee that these single carrier nonstop service overlaps will affect only 573 origin and destination passengers per day, each way, and compromise only .3 percent of the combined airline's origin and destination domestic traffic.
|
| |
| ### |
| |
| |
| |
|
|
Radio Clip | 
Television Clip
