Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport

[Trae]

Originally Posted by GTviajero81

Trae, as you get older you will learn a little more insight as to how 'power politics' and 'power economics' work. Although CO maybe doing well, one must always keep in mind that, ultimately, the concept of 'doing well' is solely determined by the majority of shareholders in a firm. If the shareholders of CO consider a merger of CO with another airline as a move that would increase the value of their shares, then buddy, you better bet your bottom dollar that that would be the direction to which the shareholders will pressure the company to proceed. In the end, where an airline's hub(s) is(are) located post-merger is by and large based on minimal over-lap and maximum profit.

Alright listen up listen up. I highly dought CO would merge with Delta. I havent heard anything about them merging together anyway. There is no reason for them to merge. So in the end, it aint happenin.

[whoDean]

Says you.

[Rail Claimore]

If Delta wants Northwest, they better be damn sure it won't send them into a nosedive financially over the next few years. I'm worried that Delta might offer too many concessions. If it doesn't work out though, I say wait it out till one of the other carriers goes belly-up and then buy a good chunk of their assets.

[GTviajero81]

Originally Posted by Trae

Alright listen up listen up. I highly dought CO would merge with Delta. I havent heard anything about them merging together anyway. There is no reason for them to merge. So in the end, it aint happenin.

Unless you are somehow a member of the Board or the offspring of one of either airline, I take your definitive statement with zero face-value. You've really have got to learn to open your mind up to the possibilities that can occur in life that you may not be aware of. Your quotes:

I havent heard anything about them merging together anyway.
- This means nothing.

There is no reason for them to merge.
- Says who? A youth from SE Texas?

So in the end, it aint happenin.
- Such manner of thinking is rather unhealthy. It is better to be open to possibilities and consider them rather than make a statement that has no merit.

Just so that everyone knows, I totally am not trying to 'bust your chops'. There are so many other factors that even those of us who work in the aviation industry, and even within the carriers of our topic (such as myself and a few others on this forum) are not privy to. I certainly have no problem with giving one's opinion and the 'why' behind it. That's how healthy debates are produced.

[Trae]

Originally Posted by GTviajero81

Unless you are somehow a member of the Board or the offspring of one of either airline, I take your definitive statement with zero face-value. You've really have got to learn to open your mind up to the possibilities that can occur in life that you may not be aware of. Your quotes:

I havent heard anything about them merging together anyway.
- This means nothing.

There is no reason for them to merge.
- Says who? A youth from SE Texas?

So in the end, it aint happenin.
- Such manner of thinking is rather unhealthy. It is better to be open to possibilities and consider them rather than make a statement that has no merit.

Just so that everyone knows, I totally am not trying to 'bust your chops'. There are so many other factors that even those of us who work in the aviation industry, and even within the carriers of our topic (such as myself and a few others on this forum) are not privy to. I certainly have no problem with giving one's opinion and the 'why' behind it. That's how healthy debates are produced.

Sorry about that. It was really late when I made those comments and I was off a bit.

[Fiorenza]

Is a "trial marriage" an oxymoron?

[smArTaLlone]

By RUSSELL GRANTHAM
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Published on: 02/06/08

Negotiations between Delta Air Lines and Northwest Airlines have accelerated and could be headed toward a merger deal next week, people familiar with the talks said.

The companies appear to have worked past a snag hit last month: how Delta Chief Executive Richard Anderson and Minneapolis-based Northwest's CEO, Doug Steenland, would share power, these people said.

Talks moved forward after Northwest's board of directors pressured Steenland, according to one person with knowledge of the talks.

Industry analysts and insiders have presumed that Anderson, who has said he wants the Atlanta airline to be the acquiring company, wants to be CEO. It's unclear what Steenland's role would be.

The two airlines' shares rose Wednesday after reports that they could be closing in on a deal. Delta's stock was up more than 5 percent; Northwest rose nearly 4 percent.

Last week, Delta President Ed Bastian said the carrier is healthy enough and its business plan sound enough to stand alone.

Any potential deal could still fall apart. Bastian said any airline merger would need to overcome challenges related to job security and preserving a presence at both airlines' headquarters cities.

— Staff writer Jim Tharpe contributed to this article.

[john3eblover]

Well I flew NW this week, through DTW and MSP. I gotta say, I was VERY impressed with MSP....top notch airport. I dont think i've seen that many stores or restaurants in an airport in a long long time. And I've been to most of the major airports in the country. NW people should be proud.

[ATLonthebrain]

The concessions program you see in place @ MSP is not due to NW, it's because of the MAC (Metropolitan Airports Commission). NW does not have a heavily involved role in creating the retail and food/beverage program at an airport. Even at DTW, where it has a Master Lease on the McNamara Terminal (Northwest WorldGateway), the WCAA (Wayne County Airport Authority) manages the concessions program. NW has little to do with it.

The Northstar Crossing is impressive, though. When I interned @ MSP in '95, it looked nothing like that, and was in sore need of attention and improvement. That came in the late 90's, along with a new NW WorldClub. The airport recently added an Ike's Restaurant (which has an upstairs that had yet to open due to low demand) and a couple of other new spots should have already debuted adjacent to the restaurant. The difference @ MSP is that many of its concessions are clustered at Northstar Crossing because so many passengers have to go through that area. Also, all O&D passengers traveling on non-NW flights will definitely cross through it between security/boarding gates/baggage claim. It's somewhat like the AirMall concept introduced @ PIT back in the 90's. Have the majority of the shops in the middle for that "In Your Face" effect that typically leads to people spending money. High-impact storefronts all around with decent prices and an interesting and wide selection, and nice restaurants.

Also john, I think you meant DTW, right? NW doesn't have a significant presence @ DFW. Were you on any ratty NW DC9's? I know they look fine on the inside since NW has refurbished all of the cabins, but damn, they are seriously old airplanes. I think I mentioned this in an old post when you said you were flying through. If you pass through DTW again, feel free to let me know. If I'm in the office that day, I can easily pop over to the McNamara and say hello. Just an idea.

[john3eblover]

Yeah yeah, I meant DTW. I was on CRJs through DTW, and from MSP to CMH was an A320.

I also meant NW people can be proud that they get to use such a nice airport in MSP. If DL/NW merger happens, hopefully I'll get to go through it again.

[cabasse]

so john - which airport do you prefer: macnamara at dtw or msp? i remember you saying you weren't all that impressed by dtw... i guess i'm a little surprised to find that msp is so nice, i thought i remembered reading that dtw was nw's premier airport at some point.

[john3eblover]

Originally Posted by cabasse

so john - which airport do you prefer: macnamara at dtw or msp? i remember you saying you weren't all that impressed by dtw... i guess i'm a little surprised to find that msp is so nice, i thought i remembered reading that dtw was nw's premier airport at some point.

I have flown through DTW probably 10+ times, while this was my first time at MSP.

I find parts of DTW great, other parts are in my opinion, good, but nothing to make a big deal about. On par with at least T, A, B and E in ATL...

If this makes more sense, here's an image.



But from what I saw of MSP, it was really nice. The concourses were nice, lots of places to eat, tons of shopping, plenty of sitting areas, plenty of tvs all over the place, it wasn't too small or crowded.

For now, I probably prefer MSP.

I'll tell you one airport I'm not at all impressed with is CLE. Man, I was stuck there for like 4 hours the other night, it wasn't pleasant at all.

[Trae]

Originally Posted by john3eblover

Well I flew NW this week, through DFW and MSP. I gotta say, I was VERY impressed with MSP....top notch airport. I dont think i've seen that many stores or restaurants in an airport in a long long time. And I've been to most of the major airports in the country. NW people should be proud.

I guess you didn't open your eyes in DFW then. That place is like a mall.

Edit: Nevermind, you weren't at DFW.

[john3eblover]

Originally Posted by Trae

I guess you didn't open your eyes in DFW then. That place is like a mall.

Edit: Nevermind, you weren't at DFW.

What's IAH like? It's one of the few airports I haven't been to

And yes, DFW is really nice in places

[Trae]

IAH has a lot of shops. Some local chains in there, too. It isn't as large as DFW's mall in the airport. The last time I was there was March of last year. It isn't too big either and doesn't take too long to get in through security, etc.

[ATLonthebrain]

Interesting that you find Conc B/C @ DTW to be average. I think perhaps it's because they are not as "grand" as A. They are actually newer than Conc A, but they were also built with a different purpose in mind. All NW mainline flights operate from Conc A. Since the lions share of traffic flows through that building, the majority of concessions are there, and it is certainly more the showplace also. It's sized for the amount of passengers using it. Conc B was extended a few years ago to accommodate both CO & DL when they moved over from the Smith Terminal (as SkyTeam members). The balance of B and all of C is strictly for NW Airlink flights. Since Airlink flies smaller planes, the gates are sized accordingly, and so are the concessions spaces. I actually think Conc C is one of the absolute best regional facilities in the country. It is less than 2-years old, has a great design that lets light in throughout, and that makes it feel more spacious than it actually is. And the building can be greatly expanded, both B & C. I'll be flying on NW Airlink for the first time in about 2-weeks on a CRJ-900 to DFW, of all places. I hope it's a good experience!

Also, there are a couple of MSP's concourses that are not great looking. It's the G-gates and the B-gates. The G-gates are managed by NW, and when I saw that concourse it looked like it was part of a totally different airport. Dark and drab, not very clean, old carpet, hardly any concessions. It's an embarassment to the airport, but they can't do much with it since they don't control it (it will get better when the G-extension is built). Also, the B-gates, while of the newest gates there, are pretty simple and basic and are more limited in concessions.

[ATLonthebrain]

Trae, you must be speaking specifically about DFW's Terminal D. I only say that because the other terminals aren't all that impressive in terms of having a lot of retail space in one portion of the building. They have gotten nicer through renovation and the SkyLink people mover stations creating new retail in each building. Terminal D, though, is fantastic! That's the nicest international terminal I have used in the U.S.

I'll be flying down to IAH right after DFW. Haven't been there in a few years, and last time I flew in on AA. This time I'll probably take CO. Looking forward to it.

[trainiac]

Originally Posted by Trae

IAH has a lot of shops. Some local chains in there, too. It isn't as large as DFW's mall in the airport. The last time I was there was March of last year. It isn't too big either and doesn't take too long to get in through security, etc.

The problem I have with DFW is the drastically different conditions from place to place: the new international terminal is super-nice but there are non-AA areas that look exactly the same as when I lived there in the 80s. The new rental car facility is great..... except you have to take a long bus ride to get there. They need to get their security line situation fixed too.

As far as MSP: it really sucked in the 1990s but lately the mall area is fantastic. I still find that I usually have to walk a *long* ways for connecting flights and everything closes pretty early but other than that it's pretty nice.

Last year a delayed Delta flight made me miss my connection to Bismarck around 10pm (the NW(?) flight left the gate 10 minutes early, bastards) and the whole airport was already dead, dead, dead. Thankfully, I have relatives all over that part of the midwest.

[ATLonthebrain]

Oh, and john, you're far too kind in giving an "Average" rating to the Smith Terminal. That place is definitely "Well-Below-Average" but thanks for pumping it up a bit more. It's 50+ years old, and it looks it, both inside and out. Thankfully, the new North Terminal is opening in about 7-months and will replace that old building. It's useful life has come and gone! LOL We can't wait to open the new terminal. It will be such an improvement over what's available today for all of those non-SkyTeam airlines (Lufthansa & Royal Jordanian will move into the new terminal from the McNamara). The concessions program alone is reason enough to be excited about the new North Terminal vs the old and decrepit Smith Terminal.

[cabasse]

yeah, smith is horrible - even in my limited experience, probably one of the country's worst terminals of any major airport, no? i couldn't believe it was still in use when i flew airtran out of it a year ago.

what is it with the area near the escalators at atl's t-gates? seems like that area has been under reconstruction for many many years, but can't see any improvement... (and it does look pretty crappy)