Delta-NWA merger won't necessarily mean higher fares.

Airline industry observer Terry Trippler said in an e-mail to his subscribers that preserving competition among airlines is up to air travelers.

According to Trippler, a Delta-Northwest merger would simply maintain the status quo of high ticket prices on routes that are already served by only Delta and NWA. Where competition does exist—for example, where AirTran is in the market—it is up to travelers to preserve the competition.

In his e-mail, Trippler told his readers: "Rather than worry and stew about no competition in case of a merger, folks would be better off making sure that all AirTran planes to Atlanta are full – and I mean full! The 'competition' game is in the hands of the air travelers – they are the ones who make 'competition' work …. or not!"

Information included in the e-mail compared prices on routes served only by Delta and NWA with those also served by low-cost carrier AirTran Airlines:
 
MSP – Atlanta
Non-stop service offered by Air Tran, Delta and Northwest.

14-day advance - $182 RT (AirTran – Delta – Northwest)
7-day advance - $222 RT (AirTran – Delta – Northwest)
3-day advance - $262 RT (AirTran – Delta – Northwest)
No advance - $302 RT (AirTran – Delta – Northwest)
 
 
MSP – Cincinnati
Non-stop service offered by Delta and Northwest.

21-day advance - $394 RT (Delta – Northwest)
14-day advance - $494 RT (Delta – Northwest)
7-day advance - $594 RT (Delta – Northwest)
3-day advance - $1128 RT (Delta – Northwest)
No advance - $1528 RT (Delta – Northwest)
 
 
MSP – Salt Lake City
Non-stop service offered by Delta and Northwest.

21-day advance - $514 RT (Delta – Northwest)
14-day advance - $614 RT (Delta – Northwest)
7-day advance - $904 RT (Delta – Northwest)
3-day advance - $1388 RT (Delta – Northwest)
No advance - $1588 RT (Delta – Northwest)