Newspaper reports say top executives at Delta and Northwest met with key U-S lawmakers on Capitol Hill earlier this week to make their case for a proposed merger. Ultimately, its up to the U-S Justice Department to review and sign-off on the proposed Delta-Northwest merger. According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, they'll be looking for possible anti trust implications. For example, will the merger create a monopoly. And, although Congress has no say-so in the antitrust review process, lawmakers can choose to hold lengthy public hearings. Delta officials have said they would like to have the merger wrapped up before year's end. On Tuesday, Northwest CEO Doug Steenland and Delta's Richard Anderson went to Washington to persuade lawmakers competition won't be undermined. Delta flies primarily to the south and east. Northwest is concentrated in the upper mid and north west. If the merger is approved by the Justice Department, it will create the world's largest passenger airline.
