WASHINGTON, D.C. — In light of the proposed merger between Northwest Airlines, Inc. (Northwest) and Delta Air Lines, Inc. (Delta), the five members of the Oregon House delegation have sent a joint letter to both airlines requesting that the post-merger entity continues to offer transpacific air service from Portland International Airport (PDX).

PDX has had intermittent air service to Asia in past decades, and currently provides a nonstop route to Tokyo.  In 2001, Portland lost all transpacific service after Delta acquired Western Airlines, Inc.  The delegation letter, which was spearheaded by Congressman David Wu, seeks to ensure that the Northwest-Delta merger would not result in another loss of service.  Comments from the delegation members are below:

“As elected representatives, we have a responsibility to the traveling public, which relies on Northwest’s Tokyo route for business and personal air service,” Wu said.  “Oregon community, business, and government leaders have fought to secure and maintain the popular transpacific air service in the past.  It is imperative that we continue to protect our vital connection with the Asian continent.”

“Good air service is critical to a robust and growing Oregon economy,” Rep. Peter DeFazio said.  “I hope Oregon’s service will be enhanced, rather than reduced, by this merger.”

"It's important that Oregon's connections to Asia not be a casualty of this merger," Rep. Earl Blumenauer said.

"The air link between Portland and Asia plays a role in Oregon's economic future, and the delegation will be working to ensure that its value is recognized in this merger," said Rep. Darlene Hooley.  

“Direct air service to Asia provides an important link to some of Oregon’s most important trading partners,” Rep. Greg Walden said.  “I hope that direct service can be maintained if a merger does in fact take place.”

Text of the delegation letter is below:    

April 15, 2008

Mr. Richard Anderson
Chief Executive Officer
Delta Air Lines, Inc.
1030 Delta Boulevard
Atlanta, GA 30354-1989

Mr. Doug Steenland
Chief Executive Officer
Northwest Airlines, Inc.
2700 Lone Oak Boulevard
Eagan, MN 55421-1534

Dear Messrs. Anderson and Steenland:

We strongly value the Northwest Airlines, Inc. (Northwest) transpacific air service between Portland and Asia. We are deeply concerned that the proposed merger between Northwest and Delta Air Lines, Inc. (Delta) may adversely affect this crucial service.

Airline mergers should only go forward if they benefit the markets and customers served. Oregonians rely on airlines to be responsive to their business and personal travel needs. As this merger proceeds, we urge you to keep your Oregon customers in mind.

Our concern is based on the history of intermittent international air service at Portland International Airport (PDX). After many years of community effort, the Port of Portland established its first nonstop international flight to Tokyo in 1983. This new United Airlines, Inc. (United) route immediately opened business and cultural opportunities and increased investment on both continents. Although Oregon and its business leaders worked extremely hard to establish the United route, our community suffered when United chose to move its transpacific service to Seattle.
            
Prompt efforts by business, community, and government leaders led Delta to begin nonstop service between Portland and Tokyo in 1987. We are deeply grateful that, over the following 11 years, Delta expanded this service from PDX to include Seoul, Nagoya, Bangkok, Taipei, and Fukuoka.

Unfortunately, after Delta's acquisition of Western Airlines, Inc., Delta wound down and eventually discontinued its Portland-based transpacific service. This was despite what we understand were continuously profitable operations at PDX.

After many years of strenuous efforts by the Port of Portland and local business, community, and government leaders, Portland regained transpacific service when Northwest established a route between PDX and Tokyo in 2004. The current Northwest service provides Oregonians with vital opportunities for business, personal, and cultural travel to Asia.

We are understandably sensitive to the potential repercussions of the proposed merger between Delta and Northwest because of our history of repeatedly losing transpacific air service despite Oregonians' best efforts.

As merger negotiations proceed, we request that the post-merger entity make a strong commitment to continue air service between Oregon and Asia. As members of Oregon's congressional delegation, we know that Oregonians will continue to rely on this service. We look forward to working with both Northwest and Delta on your efforts and ensuring continuing transpacific air service from Portland.

Sincerely,

Representative David Wu                                                                     
Representative Peter DeFazio
Representative Earl Blumenauer                                                           
Representative Darlene Hooley
Representative Greg Walden