I have watched the news coverage of the Delta/NW merger. Missing from all commentaries and journos’ questions has been anything on Southwest Airlines, Westjet, Easyjet, Ryanair, etc. These all operate in the same economic conditions that the Delta/NW management is squawking about and yet continue to make a profit. Someone should have tackled the Delta/NW so-called management about this.
The plain fact is that competent management will make profits and morons will make losses. The performance of the Southwest/Westjet/Easyjet/Ryanair management teams shows that it is possible and practical to run profitable, safe and relatively customer service oriented air operations in the economic circumstances in which the management of Delta/NW has made massive losses. The inescapable conclusion is that the Delta/NW situation is due solely to INCOMPETENT MANAGEMENT.
Delta/NW management and shareholders should not be allowed to avoid the consequences of their incompetence by using anti-competitive and trade restrictive practices such as a merger. All their management has to do is look at what the successful operators are doing and then implement the same. Doh! If they (and their shareholders) refuse to do so then let Delta/NW go under and Good Riddance! Other, more competent, airlines will soon take up the slack and continue to offer profitable, safe and relatively reliable air transport as per market demands.