An update from the merger front. New uniforms.

Hello to the nearly 22,000 flight attendant professionals from Delta and Northwest who will soon be a part of America’s premier global airline! We’re happy to reach out to you for the first time as a team and share some of the plans we are making to bring our two great organizations together. While there is certainly much to do, we can feel growing enthusiasm and excitement among our leaders and our flight attendants about all that we can achieve in building a new Delta. Working together, and using our collective experience and knowledge gained from several past mergers as a guide, we will create an airline that is successful beyond all expectations for us, our customers and our shareholders.


Our leadership teams are currently engaged across the board in planning for the future, considering topics including base operations, onboard product and procedures, training (think 10 different fleets!), scheduling, catering and many others. Each of those teams is progressing well. Like most historic undertakings, this one will require thorough analysis, expert planning, and a lot of hard work by all of us – and a huge helping of patience and heart. If we get this right, we will distinguish ourselves from our competitors in a way that is unparalleled. So, today, we want to thank you for all that you have done recently and over the years to position our airlines for this opportunity.


We realize you have many questions and we don’t have all of the answers yet. But we do want to share a few words about decisions that have been made to date:
Uniforms

The Northwest and Delta teams have been working together for many weeks to prepare for the spring 2009 launch of the Richard Tyler Collection for all Northwest flight attendants.

The collection was designed by world-renowned fashion designer Richard Tyler. He combined a timeless style with new fabrics to create a great look that Delta flight attendants also feel is comfortable, durable and functional. Within the coming days Northwest flight attendants will receive details and instructions on dates, times and locations of upcoming Style Sessions (traditionally known as fit lines) as well as item selection and ordering processes.

OnBoard Product
When the merger transaction has been completed – which we expect by the end of this year – you will begin to see Delta-branded items such as napkins and in-flight magazines on all worldwide Northwest flights. Then, beginning in the spring of 2009, we will “harmonize” our domestic onboard product. That simply means our plan is to offer consistent beverages and menus across the fleet, as well as consistent serving procedures. Products and services offered on our international flights will be harmonized in the summer of 2009. Of course there are many details to be managed and communicated with respect to each of these major initiatives, and we’ll be looking to many of you to help us define and roll-out what will no doubt be a great customer experience.