General Lee
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Airlines vow not to cut service to Montana
By NOELLE STRAUB
Gazette Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON - The heads of Delta and Northwest airlines promised this week to maintain the current level of service in Montana if they merge and to add a new route, Billings to Atlanta, but they made no guarantees on ticket prices.
The two executives had met last month with Democratic Sens. Max Baucus and Jon Tester, who pressed them not to reduce the quantity or quality of service in Montana if they merged. Delta Air Lines CEO Richard Anderson and Northwest Airlines CEO Doug Steenland sent a letter to the senators Tuesday as a follow-up to the meeting.
"We fully recognize that the services of the merged airline are vitally important to the state's economy and are a link to the domestic and international aviation systems," the executives wrote. "We will, as a result of this merger, continue to serve every city in Montana that Delta and Northwest currently serve and maintain frequency and gauge levels consistent with seasonal operations."
The letter also said they will initiate new Billings-Atlanta service in 2009 on a seasonal basis.
But they added, "Of course, the continued rapid increase in our fuel costs could have a separate and distinct impact on our entire networks that has nothing to do with this merger."
The senators said the Atlanta direct flight will make it easier for Montana residents to reach the southeastern U.S. and to travel internationally. They also said the letter means that all cities in Montana that have flights will continue to have flights, that the number of flights to and from each city that already has service will not be decreased and that the size of the planes used for flights will not be decreased.
Congress does not have to approve and therefore cannot directly stop the merger, but lawmakers could exert influence with regulatory agencies. The merger still must be approved by federal regulators and shareholders.
Baucus, who chairs the transportation subcommittee of the Senate Environment and Public Works panel, said last month that the Transportation Department has to approve any international aspect of the merger.
The letter said the two executives enjoyed the opportunity last month to discuss with the senators how they can work together to benefit the merged airline and the state of Montana, as well as "our current challenges related to fuel costs and the state of the national economy."
Baucus called the news encouraging.
"I'm very pleased to see that service in and out of Montana would be maintained and that we'd get a new flight," he said in a statement. "The new flight would help us create good-paying jobs and attract new businesses to our state, which would help boost our state's economy."
But he added, "However, the proof is in the pudding. Jon and I are going to keep a watchful on this merger if it goes through. And we'll hold NWA-Delta CEOs feet to the fire to make sure they follow through on their promises."
"With existing service plus a new route, Montanans really will be free to move about the country," Tester said in the statement. "Now Max and I will make sure Delta and Northwest stick to their word. Linking Montana to a business hub like Atlanta is a smart move that will bring our state closer to new opportunities for businesses, tourism and health care."
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Hey, why wouldn't management stick to their WORD?
BIL--ATL seems like a viable route, right? Hope so.
Bye Bye--General Lee
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By NOELLE STRAUB
Gazette Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON - The heads of Delta and Northwest airlines promised this week to maintain the current level of service in Montana if they merge and to add a new route, Billings to Atlanta, but they made no guarantees on ticket prices.
The two executives had met last month with Democratic Sens. Max Baucus and Jon Tester, who pressed them not to reduce the quantity or quality of service in Montana if they merged. Delta Air Lines CEO Richard Anderson and Northwest Airlines CEO Doug Steenland sent a letter to the senators Tuesday as a follow-up to the meeting.
"We fully recognize that the services of the merged airline are vitally important to the state's economy and are a link to the domestic and international aviation systems," the executives wrote. "We will, as a result of this merger, continue to serve every city in Montana that Delta and Northwest currently serve and maintain frequency and gauge levels consistent with seasonal operations."
The letter also said they will initiate new Billings-Atlanta service in 2009 on a seasonal basis.
But they added, "Of course, the continued rapid increase in our fuel costs could have a separate and distinct impact on our entire networks that has nothing to do with this merger."
The senators said the Atlanta direct flight will make it easier for Montana residents to reach the southeastern U.S. and to travel internationally. They also said the letter means that all cities in Montana that have flights will continue to have flights, that the number of flights to and from each city that already has service will not be decreased and that the size of the planes used for flights will not be decreased.
Congress does not have to approve and therefore cannot directly stop the merger, but lawmakers could exert influence with regulatory agencies. The merger still must be approved by federal regulators and shareholders.
Baucus, who chairs the transportation subcommittee of the Senate Environment and Public Works panel, said last month that the Transportation Department has to approve any international aspect of the merger.
The letter said the two executives enjoyed the opportunity last month to discuss with the senators how they can work together to benefit the merged airline and the state of Montana, as well as "our current challenges related to fuel costs and the state of the national economy."
Baucus called the news encouraging.
"I'm very pleased to see that service in and out of Montana would be maintained and that we'd get a new flight," he said in a statement. "The new flight would help us create good-paying jobs and attract new businesses to our state, which would help boost our state's economy."
But he added, "However, the proof is in the pudding. Jon and I are going to keep a watchful on this merger if it goes through. And we'll hold NWA-Delta CEOs feet to the fire to make sure they follow through on their promises."
"With existing service plus a new route, Montanans really will be free to move about the country," Tester said in the statement. "Now Max and I will make sure Delta and Northwest stick to their word. Linking Montana to a business hub like Atlanta is a smart move that will bring our state closer to new opportunities for businesses, tourism and health care."
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Helv][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Helv][/FONT]
Hey, why wouldn't management stick to their WORD?
BIL--ATL seems like a viable route, right? Hope so.
Bye Bye--General Lee
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