Talk:Delta Air Lines/"Delta operated by Northwest"

Should now be the time to put "Delta operate by Northwest" in airport articles? Cause Grand Forks International Airport have it listed as "Delta operated by Northwest" designation. 74.183.173.237 (talk) 16:44, 10 July 2009 (UTC)
 * Considering it's been "Delta operated by Northwest" since the beginning of April, I would say yes. --Resplendent (talk) 16:53, 10 July 2009 (UTC)
 * No, technically Northwest and Delta are still two seperate airlines, despite what the GFK article says. Also, if you look for a flight on Northwest's website it is marketed as Northwest Airlines, with Northwest flight number. On Delta's website, there are flights that are "Delta operated by Northwest" with Delta flight numbers, but that is in preparation for when they merge. Also, Northwest and Delta have a codeshare through SkyTeam, so this would be normal anyways.  Ishwasafishclick here!!!  19:13, 10 July 2009 (UTC)
 * They are separate airlines, just like Comair and Delta are separate, but it's still "Delta Connection operated by Comair". The principle is the same. From a passenger's POV at an airport, they check in at a Delta booth, get on a plane that's been repainted in Delta livery, and the flight has employees in Delta uniforms. The frontend is all now Delta, with the small exceptions of the website and possibly (depending on how it goes) boarding passes, which will be changing in the coming months as well. --Resplendent (talk) 19:23, 10 July 2009 (UTC)
 * I see your point, but many passengers still get on a Northwest plane, and Delta is still in the process of rebranding at airports other than DTW, MSP, and MEM. Also, in ¶4 of Northwest's article it says: However, Northwest will continue to operate as an independent carrier (as a Delta Air Lines subsidiary) for several months until the operating certificates and other factors are combined. Until operating certificates are combined in the coming months, it should still be listed as Northwest Airlines.  Ishwasafishclick here!!!  20:02, 10 July 2009 (UTC)

Then I suggest we list it as Delta Air Lines operated by Northwest Airlines at airports that have made the change, keeping it separate for ones that have not. Both Delta and Northwest websites specifically give this information, so it's very easy to source. --Resplendent (talk) 22:40, 10 July 2009 (UTC)
 * That doesn't make sense. What if a route's two airports aren't the same in terms of integration? The plane and the crew are the same in both directions but the airport listings are different? I think for now the best way to deal with the integration is to take NW out of alphabetical order and list it under DL for those airports that have ground services merged. HkCaGu (talk) 22:47, 10 July 2009 (UTC)

I found this off of |Northwest Merger FAQ: Are Delta and Northwest one airline or two? Delta has acquired 100 percent ownership of Northwest and is in the process of fully integrating Northwest into the Delta family. The Northwest brand is gradually being phased out and being replaced by Delta's name and brand. During the integration period, Delta and Northwest will continue to operate their own branded aircraft until the integration process is complete. The answer didn't really say whether it was one or two airlines, but it is something to chew on. Also: How can I verify which airline is operating my flight? Customers seeking information on which carrier is operating a flight purchased from Delta or Northwest can check their flight itineraries at delta.com or nwa.com. You can also find this information on your boarding pass. The term "Operated by" indicates the airline that is actually operating or flying the flight. For example, if your boarding pass states "Operated by Delta Air Lines" you should check in with Delta at the airport and/or proceed to the Delta departure gate. I can see why you could list it as DL operated by NW, but still don't think it should be listed that way.  Ishwasafishclick here!!! 23:49, 10 July 2009 (UTC)
 * While on the subject, should the NW Airlink flights be listed as Delta Connection flights or should it remain as Northwest Airlink. Since, the NW Airlink page redirects to the DL Connection. I was wondering if we should list it that way. Also another thing, if we should do it like US-HP merger, US and HP should have been listed as seperate carriers also. I think that listing it as "Delta Air Lines operated by Northwest Airlines" makes it look like a codeshare flight. Charmedaddict (talk) 02:23, 11 July 2009 (UTC)
 * The are still separate airlines, given that they remain separate entities (even if one owns the other) and, most importantly, they continue to operate under their own certificates. What airport display boards say or what the flight is marketed as is immaterial. Once they have obtained a single certificate (a stated goal for late 2009/early 2010 I think), is when they can be considered to be one airline.
 * For now, let's leave Delta and Northwest separate, with their own entries, and no "operated by"s.
 * Jasepl (talk) 06:02, 11 July 2009 (UTC)
 * I concur.  Ishwasafishclick here!!!  13:54, 11 July 2009 (UTC)
 * I do not understand this logic. To address Jaspl's point, Northwest Airlink is not an airline and never had an operating certificate.  It is simply a marketing brand name created by Northwest to include all of its regional partner flights.  As of July 2009, that brand no longer exists and all regional flying is now done under the Delta Connection banner.  Each airline continues to fly using its own operating certificate just as it always has.  Airport_master (talk) 01:26, 28 July 2009 (UTC)

I think that all of the NW Airlink flights should be changed to "Delta Connection" flights since the majority of the flights are announced as Delta Connection (the NWA Airlink brand no longer exists) but leave the mainline NW flights listed as "Northwest Airlines" with no "Delta operated by" since none of the NW flights do not have the "DL" flight designator. The only NW flights with only DL flight numbers are present are flights between the USA and Europe/Asia (e.g. ATL-NRT, ATL-FCO, ATL-AMS, ATL-LGW, JFK-FCO, etc.) Also, there are "Northwest operated by Delta" flights (e.g. JFK-NRT, DTW-PVG [from October 2009], DTW-LHR, MSP-LHR [from September 1], MSP-CDG, GUM-NRT, EWR-AMS-BOM, PDX-NRT, PDX-AMS) with only NW flight numbers but those flights are just in preparation for when they merge. But all of those flights are listed under the operating airline. Also, at airports most of the NW flights are still announced as "Northwest Airlines Flight XXX to XXX". Check-in, both airline's frequent flyer programs/websites are still operating seperately. Charmedaddict (talk) 03:44, 16 July 2009 (UTC)
 * I've just been to GUM, where it's supposed to have rebranded as DL as of June 2. There is no sign of DL anywhere in the check-in counter. It's only NWA logos on the wall. The only sign of DL logos are when the whole SkyTeam roster appear on the wall. I'll report what I see at HKG in a couple weeks. HkCaGu (talk) 08:45, 16 July 2009 (UTC)
 * And also, I just went to MEM a month ago and the ticket counters, jetways, walls, and monitors bear the Delta logo but the luggage cars out on the tarmac still bear the NW logo. Also, I flew from MEM-AMS on their A330-200, the plane still has NW colors still painted....but inside everything bears the DL logo (seats, the little tvs, flight attendant uniforms, etc) However, the food trays, silverware, and the headsets still bear the NWA logo eventhough they were suppose to combine in-flight services on all flights. Also, the flight map for international flights still has the NWA logo. Charmedaddict (talk) 15:59, 16 July 2009 (UTC)


 * It appears based upon this discussion and all of the valid observations the group has reported that the time has come to merge Northwest and Delta. The only poster who seems to be reluctant to make this change is Ishwasafish.  As has been pointed-out, they are one airline on the front end in nearly every market.  Yes, they remain two separate carriers in a technical sense due to two operating certificates, but that is true of many co-branded carriers (such as Continental and Continental Micronesia).  Airport_master (talk) 01:23, 28 July 2009 (UTC)
 * Yes, true but flight-wise, many of the NW flights are still announced as "Northwest Airlines Flight XXX to XXX" as far as I know none of the NW flights are announced as Northwest Airlines Flight XXX dba as Delta Air Lines to XXX" however I wasn't able to get on any flights with that designation. Charmedaddict (talk) 04:44, 28 July 2009 (UTC)


 * I tried to book a trip from PIT to LAX on delta.com and nwa.com a few weeks ago. Both listed the same flights and all the mainline PIT-MSP/DTW had the Delta symbol on nwa.com and was listed as Delta Flight XXXX dba Norhtwest Airlines on both websites. Also, MSP/DTW-LAX was listed the same way.--Golfj21 (talk) 14:39, 28 July 2009 (UTC)
 * I just searched for flights from PIT-LAX and the flights still have the NWA logo on it. It was probably DL/NW codeshare flights. Charmedaddict (talk) 00:13, 29 July 2009 (UTC)

As Charmedaddict said below, I agree and believe that the change should be made when DL dissolves and redirects nwa.com to delta.com. Also, I might add that CO Mike doesn't have its own website, it shares CO's.  Ishwasafishclick here!!! 02:42, 29 July 2009 (UTC)
 * Don't you mean when NW dissolves. For CO Mike not having their own website, that's why it is written as "Continental Airlines operated by Continental Micronesia". CO Mike uses the "CO" code on their flights and not "CS" (they use the same website, fleet, etc). That's not like DL and NW..as they are owned by the same company, they are still independent carriers (as they have different codes, aircraft, flight crews, etc.) and also their website are still seperated and you still check-in with either "Delta" or "Northwest". Charmedaddict (talk) 21:20, 30 July 2009 (UTC)
 * I meant that when the NW website is dissolved and redirected. Sorry, looking back on it that could have been taken a different way. I am aware that it will be NW that will be dissolved.  Ishwasafishclick here!!!  21:33, 31 July 2009 (UTC)

I think the DL/NW is the same as Dragonair/Cathay Pacific, Air India/Indian Airlines. They are owned by the same parent company but they use different ICAO codes, operating certificates, etc. However, they are listed as seperated carriers with no "operated by". Charmedaddict (talk) 21:24, 30 July 2009 (UTC)

This article makes it sound like that we can write it as DL operated by NW in a few months, and write it simply as DL by Feb'10.  Ishwasafishclick here!!! 02:17, 10 August 2009 (UTC)
 * When is "in a few months"? October, November, this month, September??? B&#39;ham35242 (talk) 03:19, 10 August 2009 (UTC)
 * Well, DL says operating certificates will be combined before the end of this year, so at most 4 months.  Ishwasafishclick here!!!  13:29, 10 August 2009 (UTC)