Merger in the air

Delta says jobs and flights will stay at MSP

by Martin Moylan, Minnesota Public Radio

Delta Air Lines says it is ready to commit to maintaining a busy flight schedule at the Twin Cities airport -- and keeping jobs in Minnesota.

The Metropolitan Airports Commission will review the airline's proposal Tuesday.

St. Paul, Minn. — Delta has long said it would keep up employment and flights in Minnesota after acquiring Northwest Airlines last year.

Airport spokesman Patrick Hogan says the airline is ready to put those flight and employment promises into a formal agreement.

"They are guaranteeing at least 400 flights a day from MSP and 10,000 jobs," Hogan said. "And they're guaranteeing at least 250 of those flights with be on larger planes with 70 seats or more."

Delta would get something in return for the job and flights assurances. The airline wouldn't have to accelerate payment on some $250 million in bonds backed by the airports commission.

Delta would also get to continue sharing in airport concession revenue.

Delta had said it will keep most of Northwest's major operations in the state, along with the jobs that go with them, but the combined airline's headquarters is in Atlanta. That will result in some job losses at what was Northwest's Eagan headquarters.

"In the end we would have more stability and more security and a greater guarantee than other hubs operated by Delta," Hogan said.

Back in 2000, Northwest employed more than 20,000 Minnesotans.

Delta has also said it has plans to reduce flights throughout its network this year, which is expected to result in some job cuts at the combined airline.