Northwest asks Delta back to merger talks

Eagan, Minn. -- Minnesota's Northwest Airlines Corp. has invited Delta Air Lines Inc. to rekindle merger talks, sources close to the company said Monday.

Talks broke off last month after pilots' unions from the two companies could not agree on how to combine their workforces.

Northwest's proposal includes forging a merger without a pilot's agreement in place, The Detroit News reported.

Delta is considering the invitation, but both companies will have to rethink their positions, as the price of oil has jumped $20 per barrel since January.

The issue of pilots is also up in the air. When the pilots' unions met could not agree on seniority issues, but both agreed on pay raises and allowed they should have a seat on the board of the new company.

The airlines "aren't going to keep those sweeteners for pilots with no labor contract," aviation consultant Daniel Kasper told the paper.

Copyright 2008 by United Press International