Delta started the year with the final government approval it needed for a single operating certificate to mesh its operations and those of its subsidiary Northwest, clearing the way for the final phase-out of the Northwest brand.
By the end of the first quarter, all tickets and fares should be consolidated into the Delta reservation system, and the Northwest code will disappear. Then every flight will be a Delta flight, Steve Gorman, Delta’s executive vice president and COO, said in a Dec. 31 memo to employees.
At about the same time, the airline plans to pull the plug on the Northwest website, redirecting visitors to the Delta site.
All but about 15% of the combined fleet sport Delta liveries now, and nearly every plane features a Delta standard interior. Passengers now see only Delta uniforms, and every gate or other airport facility except Philadelphia carries the Delta logo.
The two airlines started to merge in 2008, but until Delta received the single operating certificate from the FAA, Northwest had to fly as a separate operation, with its distinct operating and training procedures.
Now, with a single certificate, Delta can move aircraft around and make other changes more easily to better match its markets.
Other airline executives and industry analysts see the Delta-Northwest merger as a test case. If the new merged Delta successfully consolidates reservations and continues to operate without the hiccups that disrupted previous large mergers, many in the industry predict other major merger attempts are likely in the coming year or two.