Delta Air Lines is considering moving as many as 150 jobs from the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport to Atlanta as part of a plan to consolidate its warehouse operations.

In a Jan. 24 memo to employees, the Twin Cities' largest carrier said it is looking to streamline its stores unit, which stocks parts Delta uses to maintain its aircraft. The consolidation would combine MSP's warehouse with the one in Atlanta, where Delta's headquarters are.

Delta spokeswoman Ashley Black confirmed the memo but declined to comment. Employees for the airline say there are about 150 workers in the stores unit.

In the memo, Delta said the job transfers would save the company money.

"In addition to looking at further improving processes and tools, it's important that we also aggressively manage our costs to keep our competitive advantage," said Theresa Keaveny, Delta's managing director of materials and planning, in the memo.

But the development troubled state officials, who said Delta would be breaking its commitment to keeping jobs in Minnesota. In the fall, the airline paid off a loan to the Metropolitan Airports Commission, freeing it from its obligations to have at least 10,000 employees in the state. At the time, Delta said it didn't plan to move more workers to its Atlanta hub.

Gov. Mark Dayton "had the clear impression from [CEO Richard] Anderson that the job situation in Minnesota would remain stable," said Katharine Tinucci, the governor's press secretary. Moving the jobs "would be contrary to that assurance."

Tinucci said Dayton plans to write Anderson about the possible transfers.

In June, Delta announced that it was moving 400 training and technical positions from Eagan to Atlanta to trim costs. The decision outraged Minnesota politicians because it appeared the airline was reducing its presence in the state even after Delta vowed to maintain it after its 2008 merger with Northwest Airlines.

Workers advocating for a union at Delta vented about the possible job transfers on their Facebook page, called Blue Notes Newsletter-Online. Without a union, workers said it is up to Delta to determine seniority and who will move. They also noted that many employees aren't in a position to pick up and relocate to Atlanta.

Bob Herbst, founder of AirlineFinancials.com, said more jobs could be headed there.

"It should not really come as a surprise to anyone that is involved in the industry," Herbst said. "This is what happens after mergers."

Meanwhile, Terry Trippler, the owner of airline rules website ThePlaneRules.com, said what's important is that Delta is maintaining its hub at MSP. Even though a small number of jobs could be lost, he said Delta is still the dominant air carrier.

"The hub is the critical issue and Delta has kept this hub thriving and vibrant," Trippler said.

Wendy Lee • 612-673-1712