Tag: nwa View All Tags

Delta Announces World Domination Plans

November 12, 2008 at 2:00 PM | 0 Comments

This is why Delta wanted to hook up with Northwest so bad: The soon-to-be supercarrier announced 15 new routes today, 12 of which aren't served by any US airlines. The focus of the planned expansions? Japan, Africa and Europe.

Delta already had direct US-Africa flights on lockdown, but with more planes on hand, it will further expand service there, to cities like Cape Town, Lagos, Luanda and Monrovia. As for Japan, the former Northwest hub at Tokyo-Narita will now be at Delta's disposal, for extra in-bound flights from Atlanta, New York and Salt Lake City.

The additional destinations and frequencies are great news if you already live in or near Delta (or NWA) hubs, but those of you on the fringes of the system might be in for trouble:

To prepare for the summer 2009 schedule, Delta in January will increase connectivity between its US hubs to improve customers’ connections to the world. Overall, Delta will offer 14.5 percent more capacity between Atlanta, Detroit, Minneapolis, Cincinnati, Salt Lake City, New York and Memphis in January 2009 compared with the year prior.

This doesn't necessarily mean Delta will be cutting service to smaller markets... But it could!

Related Stories:
· Full Details on New Flights [Official Site]
· Delta-Northwest Merger Gets Justice Department Approval [Jaunted]

[Photo: Faithful Chant]

Delta-Northwest Merger Gets Justice Department Approval

October 29, 2008 at 4:02 PM | 0 Comments

US regulators have approved the merger of Delta and Northwest, which means the two are one step closer to a deal. A court case that could still block the tie-up goes to trial November 5.

The Department of Justice released a statement:

The proposed merger between Delta and Northwest is likely to produce substantial and credible efficiencies that will benefit US consumers and is not likely to substantially lessen competition.

The two airlines currently compete with a number of other legacy and low cost airlines in the provision of scheduled air passenger service on the vast majority of nonstop and connecting routes where they compete with each other. In addition, the merger likely will result in efficiencies such as cost savings in airport operations, information technology, supply chain economics and fleet optimization that will benefit consumers.

Consumers are also likely to benefit from improved service made possible by combining under single ownership the complementary aspects of the airlines’ networks.

Well... We'll see about that!

Related Stories:
· DOJ Statement on the Merger [Official Site]
· Justice Approves Delta Merger [AP, via Google]

Fugitive Former Flight Attendant Updates MySpace Status *Again*

September 29, 2008 at 1:15 PM | 2 Comments

If Eder Rojas spent as much time in federal court as he does updating his MySpace page, we'd probably be able to clear up whether he's "iNoCeNt" or guilty of setting fire to a Compass Airlines plane on the way to Regina, Saskatchewan on May 7.

The fugitive former flight attendant was supposed to appear in US District Court in Fargo earlier this month but instead disappeared from his halfway house.

Maybe he's "ExciTeD!!!" because cops haven't tracked him down yet?

Update: Here's the bench warrant issued for Rojas' arrest. And here it is as a PDF!

Related Stories:
· Fugitive Former Flight Attendant Eder Rojas Still Has Time for MySpace [Jaunted]
· Eder Rojas May Update Myspace Status Soon [Jaunted]

Adventures of Link: Delta-Northwest Deal Still Percolating

September 24, 2008 at 5:00 PM | 0 Comments

Shareholders of Delta and Northwest will vote tomorrow on whether to merge the two beleaguered carriers. One little problem though: No one has any idea exactly how a tie-up will save the two airlines $2 billion a year. Still, it looks like the vote will be "yes" all around. (Why not, right?)

There's another problem left to contend with, too: Regulatory approval from the US Department of Justice. But while Delta and Northwest wait to hear on that, they can at least toast to a small victory with the FAA, which has approved an operating certificate for the proposed combined carrier.

Related Stories:
· Delta, Northwest Merger Goes to Vote [WSJ]
· Delta, Northwest Shareholders to Vote Thursday [AJC]
· Merger Vote Hangs on "Leap of Faith" [Bloomberg]
· From August: Delta-Northwest Deal May Actually Happen [Jaunted]

Fugitive Former Flight Attendant Eder Rojas Still Has Time for MySpace

September 10, 2008 at 11:08 AM | 1 Comment

ZOMG. We thought Eder Rojas' decision to abscond from his halfway house just before his trial in Fargo was proof enough that he has trouble making smart decisions. But that was before he logged into MySpace while on the run from the law today.

Last seen in the wee hours of September 5, Rojas--who's been accused of setting fire to a Compass Airlines jet flying between Minneapolis and Regina, Saskatchewan--was supposed to make an appearance at US District Court in Fargo on the morning of September 8. He didn't, and he's been on the lam since--though wherever he is, he apparently has internet access.

Related Stories:
· Eder Rojas [MySpace]
· Accused Fire-Setting Flight Attendant Disappears from Halfway House, Skips Court Appearance [Jaunted]
· Eder Rojas coverage [Jaunted]

Accused Fire-Setting Flight Attendant Disappears from Halfway House, Skips Court Appearance

September 6, 2008 at 10:40 AM | 1 Comment

Eder Rojas, a 19-year-old former Compass Airlines flight attendant accused of starting a fire in an airplane's lavatory while in flight, has slipped away from a Fargo halfway house and skipped a court appearance that was scheduled for Friday. Authorities have no idea where he is, but if there was any doubt in the court of public opinion that Rojas has a couple of screws loose in his noggin and shouldn't have a position of authority on an aircraft, it's pretty much gone now. Just like Rojas.

The charges stem from a May 7 flight from Minneapolis to Regina, during which Rojas allegedly used a lighter to set fire to some paper towels in the plane's lavatory because he was upset at having to work the route. The fire was extinguished and the plane diverted to Fargo with no injuries but plenty of white knuckles. You don't want a fire on your airplane.

It makes us wonder, were there no warning signs during his hiring and training process of his (allegedly) unstable mind? Did anybody in the chain of command get a feeling that Rojas was a little bit "off" and might not be the best fit for a job in which people's lives are on the line every day? We're 100% behind every measure that protects people from workplace bias, but in a position where so much is on the line, we'd hope that any glimmer of destructive behavior in a candidate would be addressed aggressively.

Related Stories:
· Attendant Charged in Fire a No-Show in Court [Canadian Press]
· Eder Rojas Profile [MySpace]
· Eder Rojas Coverage [Jaunted]

Delta Uniforms Are So Hot for '09

August 22, 2008 at 3:30 PM | 0 Comments

Once (and if) Delta and Northwest finally wrap up that merger they've been hyping, all 22,000 flight attendants at the new super-carrier will be wearing the same, Richard Tyler-designed duds.

Northwest cabin crews are probably looking forward to the change, even though it'll mean switching up their wardrobe: The carrier originally promised new uniforms after emerging from bankruptcy last year, but they never materialized.

As for other corporate stuff, Delta is prepping a quick shift in cocktail napkins, in-flight magazines and other logo gear to wipe the word Northwest from the post-merger carrier. If all goes to plan, NWA could be but a memory as soon as next summer.

Related Stories:
· Ahead of Merger, Delta Preps New Look [WSJ]
· Airline Mergers coverage [Jaunted]

[Not a photo of the Tyler uniforms: The Atlantic]

Airline Mergers: Delta-Northwest Deal May Actually Happen

August 11, 2008 at 5:04 PM | 0 Comments

It's been a bit since we last heard from Delta and Northwest about their forthcoming tie-up. But today Delta announced that pilots for both airlines have agreed to a "joint contract" that will cover all 12,000 of them when the merger is completed "later this year."

According to the Associated Press, the pilots still haven't figured out a way to combine their seniority lists--which decide who flies where and how much they're paid--but will agree to binding arbitration if they can't make a deal.

Though European regulators have already approved the merger, antitrust G-men in the US still have to give it the OK, as do shareholders. That later group might be encouraged to give it a nod if they believe what one industry analyst said today: Delta could turn a profit in 2009 if oil stays at its current price of about $115 a barrel.

Related Stories:
· Delta and Northwest Pilots Approve Joint Collective Bargaining Agreement [Official Site]
· Voting Deadline Looms for Delta, NWA Agreement [AP, via Google]
· UAL, Delta May Lead Carriers to Profit [Bloomberg]
· Airline Mergers coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Drewski2112]

Midwest Death Watch: Northwest Writes Off Its Midwest Investment

August 8, 2008 at 11:45 AM | 1 Comment

More bad news for the Milwaukee-based airline: Northwest Airlines' 47-percent share in the carrier has lost so much value that NWA has written off its $213 million investment in Midwest Airlines, which it bought with TPG Capital in January.

Paying passenger traffic for Midwest also dropped 16 percent in July compared to last year's numbers with 324,002 brave souls taking the ailing carrier. Northwest ended up buying Midwest to keep budget carrier AirTran from gaining a toehold in Milwaukee; now it's looking like they just ended up with a white elephant.

Related Stories:
· Northwest Writes off Midwest Investment [Milwaukee JS]
· Midwest Passenger Loads Down in July [Biz Journals]
· Midwest Death Watch coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: md11forever]

Eder Rojas May Update Myspace Status Soon

July 17, 2008 at 3:30 PM | 1 Comment

After allegedly setting fire to an aircraft, Eder Rojas was released into his father's custody to await trial in the case. But instead of keep a low profile, he's reportedly violated the terms of his release by contacting a former co-worker via email.

He's now been remanded to a halfway house in Fargo, North Dakota until his trail starts September 8. Assuming he's allowed to use the computer while there, we expect to see his Myspace "mood" updated soon. What's the emoticon for terminally foolish?

Related Stories:
· Eder Rojas' Profile [Myspace]
· Attendant in Plane Fire Held [KXMB]
· Eder Rojas coverage [Jaunted]

At This Point, Why Not? Northwest Slashing Jobs, Adding Fees

July 10, 2008 at 11:50 AM | 2 Comments

Honestly, this is hardly news anymore. But we should at least mention that Northwest Airlines is set to cut 2,500 jobs through buyouts and firings. The carrier will also start collecting $15 for the first checked bag, beginning on August 28.

The new fees, CEO Douglas Steenland says, should rack up an additional $250 million this year. That sounds like a lot of cash until you realize that Northwest lost $4.1 billion in the first three months of this year.

When is that merger with Delta going through, again?

Related Stories:
· Citing Fuel Costs, Northwest Plans to Cut 2,500 Jobs [NYT]
· Northwest Airlines coverage [Jaunted]
· Airline Bankruptcy coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Drewski2112]

Eder Rojas Doesn't Need Your Negativity

June 9, 2008 at 10:30 AM | 0 Comments

He may be facing charges in Fargo for setting fire to his plane's lavatory, but flight attendant Eder Rojas knows how the criminal justice system works. That's why he's updated his Myspace page to read:

iM BaCk iNoCeNt UnTiL PrOvEn GuiLtY!!!

His current mood is angry, but things could be worse. The judge in his case decided to release him into his father's custody instead of remanding him until his trial starts on July 21. Rojas will be facing a maximum penalty of 20 years for allegedly setting a fire in the lav of his Compass Airlines flight on May 7.

We're looking forward to some live Myspace trail-blogging!

Related Stories:
· FA Pleads Not Guilting to Plane Fire [AP, via Google]
· Alleged Arson Travel: Fiery Flight Attendant Eder Rojas Is "Anxious" [Jaunted]
· Flight Attendants coverage [Jaunted]