"US Airways, Delta to meet"

Wednesday, November 29, 2006

US Airways, Delta execs to talk in person 
By Dawn Gilbertson
The Arizona Republic


Two weeks after they launched a hostile takeover for Delta Air Lines, senior
executives of US Airways will get to make their pitch in person on Thursday.


Representatives from both airlines and Delta's creditors are due to meet for
the first time in New York. The creditors committee is a key player in
Delta's bankruptcy case.

Elise Eberwein, senior vice president of people, communication and culture
for Tempe-based US Airways, confirmed the meeting but would not disclose the
date, location or other details. But insiders confirmed the meeting will be
held Thursday.

CEO Doug Parker, President Scott Kirby and other top executives are expected
to present their airline's case. Some US Airways executives flew to New York
on Tuesday after meetings at the airline's hub in Charlotte, N.C. 

The meeting is bound to be tense, at least initially, because Delta has made
no secret of its disdain for the $8 billion-plus US Airways offer that
caught it off-guard. The Atlanta-based airline said it wants to emerge from
bankruptcy as an independent airline.

"Ideally, what would happen is we would go in there and, putting emotions
and other things aside, go through what we think is compelling information,"
Eberwein said. "We're excited because we think we have a really good plan."

She said US Airways would like to emerge from the meeting with the go-ahead
to study Delta's books. It's called due diligence and is a critical step in
any formal merger pact.

Delta spokesman Anthony Black declined to comment on the airline's
expectations from the meeting. 

"We're obligated to review their offer and are scheduled to meet with US
Airways at some point in the future," he said.

Bill Morey knows what employees would like to see next on the merger front.
A 30-year company veteran based in Los Angeles, he sits on the five-member
Delta Board Council that represents employees at the largely non-union
airline.

The group distributed red "Keep Delta My Delta" buttons to show its feelings
after the proposed takeover was announced.

"You would hope that it (Delta's stance at the meeting) would be compelling
and that Mr. Parker would think twice about the value of continuing down
this path," Morey said. "I don't think that'll happen, but that's what you
would hope."

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