Delta, Northwest Merger Reportedly Imminent

According to a report in the Detroit Free Press, a merger between Delta Air Lines and Northwest Airlines appears imminent. Ray Neidl of Calyon Securities said Delta was pressing hard to begin the merger process, according to the Free Press story.

But on Capitol Hill, a merger would not be supported by Rep. James Oberstar, a Democrat for Minnesota and chairman of the House Transportation Committee, according to a story in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “Mergers do not serve the best public interest,” said Oberstar in the Journal-Constitution report.

Mr. Oberstar said he would try to persuade the Justice Department to block the merger on antitrust grounds.