HOUSTON, April 15 (UPI) -- Unions from various airlines are staking their positions in the event the Delta and Northwest airlines merger triggers a rash of similar moves, officials said.
Delta Air Lines and Northwest Airlines announced a $3.1 billion deal Monday that would create the world's biggest airline.
The head of Continental's pilots' union Jay Pierce told the Houston Chronicle "merging seniority lists … is one of the most challenging tasks that pilots can face in this particular environment."
Similarly, United Air Lines' flight attendants union has said they are preparing for merger discussions.
"In the event we determine there exists a threat and not an opportunity for flight attendants, we will launch an aggressive campaign to derail any attempt to move forward with a merger," Greg Davidowitch, president of the local chapter of the Association of Flight Attendants, said in a prepared statement.
Industry observers say Continental Airlines and United would be a likely next merger and it might happen, "pretty quick, because they have already talked to each other," CreditSights analyst told the Chronicle.
The two airlines met for preliminary discussions after Delta and Northwest announced they were trying to forge a deal.
