SimAirline.net - Viewpoint

Republic Airways announced this week that Frontier Airlines will be the surviving brand of the Frontier-Midwest merger. Republic has launched a new website to update the public about merger news. Operations are expected to be integrated by November and brands by October 2011.

"While the research showed that customers preferred the Frontier brand, they also expressed a strong loyalty to both brands based on affordability, convenience, destinations and delivery of a differentiated experience. As we work to integrate these two brands into a unified Frontier Airlines, you can expect to see a lot of influence from the Midwest brand," said Republic Airways Chairman, CEO, and President Bryan Bedford. So far, this includes retaining Midwest's signature chocolate chip cookies and adding a badger to Frontier's fleet to represent Wisconsin.

Yesterday marked Northwest Airlines' final day of operations. While Northwest Airlines legally ceased to exist at the end of December and all January flights have technically been operated by Delta Air Lines, yesterday was the last time the 'Northwest' callsign and NW/NW codes were used. The final Northwest arrival was flight 2470, an A320 from Los Angeles to Las Vegas.

Going forward, all formerly Northwest flights can once more be found in the SkyTeam Timetable. Because they all now have Delta flight numbers, they should be filed through the Delta Virtual PIREP page. Of course, Northwest-painted aircraft are still flying, so it is acceptable to fly in Northwest livery. The Northwest Virtual PIREP should only be used for flying those flights in the SimAirline.net Timetable, i.e., discontinued flights.

For the last month the SkyTeam Timetable has not listed any Northwest flights. This change was unexpected for us and premature, as Northwest is still flying. The current merger timetable is for Delta and Northwest to achieve Single Operating Certificate after operations conclude on 31 December, while reservations will not cut over until after 31 January. Below are answers to many of your questions about how to fly and file Northwest flights.

What is considered a Northwest flight vs. a Delta flight?
The operating airline is not the deciding factor because of 'crossfleeted' flights, under which a Northwest aircraft may fly a Delta route, and vice versa. While you should always fly the appropriate aircraft, the marketing airline, i.e., DL or NW code, determines what we consider a Delta or Northwest flight.

So, how do I go about searching for Northwest flights?
Our new recommendation is to use the Northwest/KLM Timetable program. This will list flights with Northwest flight numbers through 31 January. Note: we continue to recommend that you use the SkyTeam Timetable for KLM flights.

How do I go about flying Northwest flights?
While they should obviously be with the appropriate aircraft, the choice of flying in Delta or Northwest livery is up to you. As discussed in one of our original merger FAQs, you should continue to use the "Northwest" callsign through 31 December. However, if flying a Northwest aircraft in Delta livery, the FAA has asked for the callsign to include the phrase "Delta colors" after the flight number, e.g., "Northwest 714 Delta colors." Effective 1 January, if flying in Northwest livery, we recommend having your callsign read the reverse, e.g., "Delta 714 Northwest colors." However, this last point has not yet been confirmed.

How do I go about filing Northwest flights?
Northwest flights should continue to be filed through the Northwest PIREP page, and must be filed with the Northwest flight number, not the Delta flight number.

When will Northwest Virtual close?
Although Northwest Airlines will close on 31 December or 31 January, depending on your perspective, we will keep Northwest Virtual open through SimAirline.net's close on 30 April. However, the only flights remaining will be those discontinued routes listed in the SimAirline.net Timetable.

We also recommend you read this NOTAM on Delta/Northwest crossfleeting.

If you have other unanswered questions, please contact me and ask.

After nearly a year and a half of active talks and even more years of speculation, British Airways and Iberia are finally merging. The two airlines yesterday reached agreement to merge the companies under a holding company, TopCo.

The new company, 55% controlled by British Airways shareholders, will have British Airways CEO Willie Walsh serve as the new CEO. Iberia Chairman and CEO Antonio Vazquez will be the new chairman, while British Airways Chairman Martin Broughton will be deputy chairman. Headquarters will be in London.

The merger had been rumored for years due to the two airlines' oneworld membership and British Airways' desire to maintain pace with the growing Air France and Lufthansa consortia. a

The agreement took so long to reach due to concerns over equity shares (British Airways wanted 60-65% of the combined equity) and British Airways' pension deficit. Iberia can still terminate the merger if British Airways does not adequately address this issue. Along the way, Iberia Chairman and CEO Fernando Conte stepped down in July, reportedly because of the stalled merger talks.

For at least five years after the merger, both airlines will "keep their main base in their home country," network plans would be balanced and based on "the importance of both London and Madrid hubs," and labor issues will be handled locally.

This topic is being discussed on the Message Boards.

All Nippon Airways announced last week that it would restructure its airlines from the current seven into two. Next year, Air Japan, All Nippon Airways, and JP Express would merge into a single entity, while regional airlines Air Central, Air Next, and Air Nippon Network would merge. In 2011, the larger ANA would then merge with Air Nippon. Over the years, ANA has broadened into several specialized airlines, but is now seeking to generate cost efficiencies through consolidating these operations.