From Deseret News archives:
Delta execs in Utah to tout merger
To prepare for the visit, Becker convened a meeting of the Air Transportation Promotion Alliance on Wednesday, seeking input from government, community and business leaders, as well as Salt Lake City International Airport officials, on questions to ask and airport strengths to emphasize.
"We want to be prepared as we can be ... and do what we can to make this a good result for Salt Lake City and the state," Becker said.
The mayor said he wants to keep the discussion as positive as possible, but there are also tough questions that need to be asked of Delta brass. Chief among those, he said, is how the merger will affect local Delta employees.
When Delta and Northwest on Monday jointly announced plans to merge, officials said the new airline would keep open all existing hubs. However, questions remain about the number of flights in and out of Salt Lake City and the personnel needed.
"It's a major concern for employees," Becker said. "We need to try to get a sense as soon as we can of what plans they have and how we can integrate into their future plans."
Zeidner advised Becker to determine what efficiency improvements the new airline plans and how Salt Lake City and the state can help achieve those.
Perry said possible benefits of the merger such as the ability to add routes from Salt Lake City to Asia also should be pointed out during discussions with Delta.
"This is a chance to really enhance our opportunities," Perry said. "Our economy and work force is perfectly positioned right now to take advantage (of the merger)."
Plans to expand Salt Lake City International Airport also are a likely topic of discussion with Delta, Becker said. Those plans now call for approximately 40 gates to be added to the airport in the next 10 years.
Airport officials currently are working toward relocating the de-icing facilities, which now are located in the footprint of the expansion, said Maureen Riley, executive director of the airport. A cost estimate for the project is expected to be complete in about two months.
Recent comments
Question: While they are here, will they be touting the $60 fare...
Touting | April 18, 2008 at 8:55 a.m.
Job cuts are coming. You can count on it.
No Question | April 18, 2008 at 7:08 a.m.
be interesting to find out from this meeting, how really secured are...
It's gonna.... | April 18, 2008 at 5:43 a.m.
- Tiger opens with a 66 in Australia 1:18 a.m.
- Crash kills Utah County man 1:12 a.m.
- UCAT cheaper education option 1:12 a.m.
- Post office to be named for Rex Lee 1:11 a.m.
- Police probe synagogue vandalism 1:09 a.m.
- New charges added in fraud case 1:09 a.m.
- Mom takes plea deal in girl's beating 1:08 a.m.
- Drug trafficking operation busted 1:07 a.m.
- News yule writing contest starting up 12:59 a.m.
- Alpine District school honored 12:59 a.m.
- SLC council OKs gay rights policies
- Utah Jazz have a problem at point
- 'Love story' of crash victim ends
- BYU football recruit turning heads
- Alta's Ohai is Ms. Soccer 2009
- Prep football: Felt's Facts Week
- 12 Utes return to Texas
- Cougars' defensive hoops clinic
- Wyoming writer amazed by BYU
- Civilians help S.L. officer make arrest
- House passes health care bill
287 - SLC council OKs gay rights policies
246 - TCU showdown has big implications
193 - Senators want food tax restored
157 - Cougars crush hapless Cowboys
155 - Utah Jazz fall apart against Kings
131 - TCU 4th in AP poll; U. 16th, Y. 22nd
119 - S.L. vote pending on gay protections
109 - Pratt pleads not guilty to sex charges
101 - Letters: Strange breed in Utah
92
Maybe someone out there can help me understand how raising the state...
Beck, Hannity, and Limbaugh get the audience they deserve and vice versa. ...
I find the rule,very discriminitory. I am not gay, I don't understand what...
I understand we were outmanned last night. However, this effort was awful....
My advice to Jonathan is shoot it when they pass it to you as soon as you...
Maybe they should try drafting a shooting guard who can shoot from outside ....
The sad thing about it is that there are actually people out there that are...
Thank you TCU and BYU. Your wanting to beat Utah so bad has to drive you...
Play fes and koufos. Look to the future. It looks like we will have two...
Oh come on. Obama's a horrible president, but I couldn't care less which...
"We had the best soccer of any place in the state. There's no disputing...

