How to Merge Two Airlines

Thursday, 19 May 2011 | by Pat's Picks

Imagine if your to-do list looked like this. According to the New York Times, this is the board at Delta Airlines HQ showing the steps necessary for merging an airline. Part of a merger’s complexity, says an airline executive, is that it can end up looking a lot like Noah’s ark, with two of everything.  Another problem is melding of two different cultures: “Delta always thought of itself as the gracious host. Hence its flight attendants poured the requested drinks. Northwest was the practical carrier; its attendants just handed over the can.” Then there are the thousands of little details—integrating customer loyalty programs, new airport locations, unifying computer platforms—that could really make someone’s head spin. (Click image above for a closer look at Delta’s Post-It note plan)