Delta Delays Comair Sale

Airline holds off on sale while it considers merging with a rival

By Lucas Laursen, Newser Staff

Posted Jan 7, 2008 5:14 AM CST

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Delta Delays Comair Sale — A Delta Air Lines jet takes off at Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport in Atlanta in this March 3, 2006. Delta has postponed selling its Comair regional service while it considers a merger with UAL Corp.'s United Airlines. (AP Photo/Ric Feld. File) (Associated Press)

Delta Air Lines has postponed the sale of its regional division Comair until a special committee completes its merger review. Delta recently emerged from bankruptcy and may join with one of its main rivals in 2008. The six “legacy” carriers, which existed before the 1978 deregulation of airlines, are all considering merger deals, reports the Financial Times.

Last year Delta rejected a hostile bid from US Airways, which has experienced difficulties integrating with partner America West. Like chief rival American Airlines, which is considering selling American Eagle, Delta may be able to slash costs by cutting loose its regional operator and simplifying its maintenance needs. Still, “the sale of Comair is not imminent,” said a company spokesman. (More Delta Air Lines stories.)

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