Northwest said that more than 98% of its voting shareholders approved the deal, while Delta said about 99% of its votes cast were in favor. Shareholders at Delta also approved a plan that would allow the airline to distribute equity to U.S. employees shortly after the merger closes.
With the approvals, the Department of Justice is left as the last major hurdle for the airlines to complete their deal. Analysts have long expected regulators to sign off on the combinations, and industry sources say the merger could be completed as early as Thanksgiving.
Completion, however, is when the difficult work will begin. The merged Delta will be watched closely as pilot groups from the two legacy airlines attempt to combine their seniority lists without the sort of friction that has followed past mergers, including US Airways Group Inc.'s 2005 deal with America West Holdings Inc. Other unions active at Northwest but not at Delta are expected to wage organizational campaigns at the merged carrier. - Lou Whiteman
See Northwest's release announcing the voting results
See Delta's release
See Dealwatch: Airlines
Shareholders at Northwest Airlines Corp. and Delta Air Lines Inc. as expected gave their approval Thursday to a $3.3 billion merger agreement that would create the world's largest airline.
