The Delta - Northwest merger ... what it means

Where Airline Mergers Would Hurt Travelers Most

Intro (view chart for details):

If several of the nation's big airlines merge, as industry executives have been advocating for months, airfares would probably rise, some cities might get a bit of additional service, and other cities would see flights scaled back significantly. With help from the trade publication Airline Weekly, we've examined the top 50 airports to determine the likely effects of two possible megamergers: a Delta-Northwest alliance and a United-Continental hookup. Here are the cities that would be most deeply affected:


Comment: You basically have 2 failed airlines that will become one failed airline. Flying will be less fun (is that even possible?) and more costly.

Northwest - the "800-pound gorilla" at MSP

Low-fare air battles bypass Twin Cities

Excerpt:

Travelers beginning their trips at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport on average pay 21 percent more than travelers starting at other hub airports because of the relative lack of low-fare carriers here, according to the former Transportation Department officials' report.

With increased service from low-fare carriers, the so-called "hub premium" isn't as steep as it used to be in the Twin Cities. Twelve years ago, the premium was 38 percent.

Minneapolis-St. Paul "now ranks fourth-highest," said Patrick Murphy, co-author of the competitive analysis and a former deputy assistant secretary for aviation at the Transportation Department. "It's not in the ranks of the worst, but there is still a premium."

Murphy said the strength of Northwest Airlines in this market contributes to the fare premium by keeping smaller carriers out of the market. In 2006, Northwest flights accounted for 76.5 percent of takeoffs and landings at the airport.

Comment: Southwest would give Northwest a real competitive run for the money!