Pilot representatives for Delta Air Lines and merger partner Northwest Airlines reached a tentative agreement on a post-merger joint contract, the carriers announced today.
Air Line Pilot Association groups for both carriers must first ratify the agreement, which the carriers expect to go into effect when the merger closes, targeted for later this year. Delta in a statement today said, "The pilot groups also have established a separate process designed to establish a single pilot seniority list by the close of the merger."
Delta and Northwest had attempted to get contract support from their pilot groups prior to the announcement of their merger agreement in April, but a sticking point of "pilot seniority integration" halted those efforts
(BTNonline, April 15).
"Achieving a joint contract and combined seniority list in advance of the closing of the merger is something that has never been done in this industry and is a testament to the leadership of ALPA and a working together culture," Delta CEO Richard Anderson said in a statement today.