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Question of the Week for June 2, 2008

Click here to read this week's question
Click here to read answers from: May 12 | May 26

Below are some of the answers we received for the June 2, 2008 Question of the Week, "What do you see as the top challenge currently facing the airline industry, and how will this merger help?"

"With the synergies between NW & DL, I believe our merger will help with the fuel situation, which is definitely a major challenge all over our industry. Fuel prices don't seem to be going down and the economy is still weakening. With our joint efforts of "right sizing", we will be able to forge into the future with the best airline in the world!"
Kay C., DFW
National Account Executive, Northwest

"At this point fuel is our top issue. However, the merger will make delta a very competitor in all areas....Delta/NWA, in my opinion, will be able to service the world.....and will be the airline of choice.....we will be number 1...."
John L., JFK
Customer Service, Delta

"The top challenge facing the airline industry is the cost of fuel. I know we have the best management team in the airline business making all the right decisions. We have weathered many storms and still came out the best! We will continue with our stride to be the Best of the Best! The merger gives us the domination we needed in the Pacific and there is no stopping us now!"
Ethel R., ATL
Analyst, Delta

"The top challenges facing the industry right now are fuel and oil. I think mergers are important at a time like this where one has to do anything and everything possible to keep the competitive edge. The merger will help to collectively deal with the skyrocketing fuel and oil cost and allow Delta/Northwest to provide more seamless, impeccable, state of the art service that will be second to none."
Jason T., DEN
Equipment Services, Northwest

"In my eyes, the top challenge is creating a business model and culture that allows us to remain profitable even when factors outside our control impact us...ie...fuel, government regulations, weather, the out of date air traffic control system, etc. Each of the two carriers have fixed costs that we will be able to reduce through consolidation. At the same time, the two carriers combined produce higher revenues. So while we can’t make the cost of fuel go down or government regulations go away, with reduced overhead and increased revenues, we will be able to sustain profits during the tough times. We will have lower profits when times are bad and higher profits when times are good...but a profitable organization regardless of the economy."
Gloria R., ATG
General Manager - Outsourcing Delivery, Delta

 

Stay tuned for additional questions and responses at NewGlobalAirline.com/employees.

Forward Looking Statements

This website includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as “expect,’ “estimate,” “project,” “budget,” “forecast,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “may,” “will,” “could,” “should,” “believes,” “predicts,” “potential,” “continue,” and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, Delta's and Northwest’s expectations with respect to the synergies, costs and charges and capitalization, anticipated financial impacts of the merger transaction and related transactions; approval of the merger transaction and related transactions by shareholders; the satisfaction of the closing conditions to the merger transaction and related transactions; and the timing of the completion of the merger transaction and related transactions.

These forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from the expected results. Most of these factors are outside our control and difficult to predict. Factors that may cause such differences include, but are not limited to, the possibility that the expected synergies will not be realized, or will not be realized within the expected time period, due to, among other things, (1) the airline pricing environment; (2) competitive actions taken by other airlines; (3) general economic conditions; (4) changes in jet fuel prices; (5) actions taken or conditions imposed by the United States and foreign governments; (6) the willingness of customers to travel; (7) difficulties in integrating the operations of the two airlines; (8) the impact of labor relations, and (9) fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates. Other factors include the possibility that the merger does not close, including due to the failure to receive required stockholder or regulatory approvals, or the failure of other closing conditions.

Delta cautions that the foregoing list of factors is not exclusive. Additional information concerning these and other risk factors is contained in Delta’s and Northwest’s most recently filed Forms 10-K. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements concerning Delta, Northwest, the merger, the related transactions or other matters and attributable to Delta or Northwest or any person acting on their behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements above. Delta and Northwest do not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, relating to the matters discussed in this news release.

Additional Information About the Merger and Where to Find It

In connection with the proposed merger, Delta will file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) a Registration Statement on Form S-4 that will include a joint proxy statement of Delta and Northwest that also constitutes a prospectus of Delta. Delta and Northwest will mail the joint proxy statement/prospectus to their stockholders. Delta and Northwest urge investors and security holders to read the joint proxy statement/prospectus regarding the proposed merger when it becomes available because it will contain important information. You may obtain copies of all documents filed with the SEC regarding this transaction, free of charge, at the SEC’s website (www.sec.gov). You may also obtain these documents, free of charge, from Delta’s website (www.delta.com) under the tab “About Delta” and then under the heading “Investor Relations” and then under the item “SEC Filings.” You may also obtain these documents, free of charge, from Northwest’s website (www.nwa.com) under the tab “About Northwest” and then under the heading “Investor Relations” and then under the item “SEC Filings and Section 16 Filings.”

Delta, Northwest and their respective directors, executive officers and certain other members of management and employees may be soliciting proxies from Delta and Northwest stockholders in favor of the merger. Information regarding the persons who may, under the rules of the SEC, be deemed participants in the solicitation of Delta and Northwest stockholders in connection with the proposed merger will be set forth in the proxy statement/prospectus when it is filed with the SEC. You can find information about Delta’s executive officers and directors in its definitive proxy statement filed with the SEC on April 25, 2008 related to Delta’s 2008 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. You can find information about Northwest’s executive officers and directors in its Amendment to its Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on April 29, 2008. You can obtain free copies of these documents from Delta and Northwest using the contact information above.

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