Any Delta merger would be on its own terms, airline says

ATLANTA - Delta Air Lines executives said the carrier has a strong stand-alone plan and will not go ahead with a merger unless it meets their goals to strengthen the airline and create job security for both companies' employees.

Delta President Ed Bastian said Friday that the Atlanta-based airline has been working for "several months" to prepare for a potential wave of mergers among the industry's big players. "The seeds of what we're doing here really were laid over the restructuring over the last couple of years," Bastian said.

He and other Delta executives painted a picture of an airline that can afford to be picky about potential partners.

They said Delta is in good financial shape after shedding billions in debt and operating expenses in a 19-month bankruptcy restructuring.

"A strong stand-alone plan is part of the hand that we're carrying," said Michael Campbell, Delta's executive vice president of human resources and labor relations.

The executives' comments come as people familiar with the matter have said that they expect Delta to soon announce a merger agreement with Northwest Airlines -- or to reach a decision not to do any deal.