Delta-Continental Merger Talks Fail

A merger deal between two of the nation’s largest airlines - Delta and Continental - appears to have folded.

In a telephone message to employees, Continental Airlines Chief Executive Gordon Bethune said the carrier is no longer in merger discussions.

“We are not in any discussions, nor do we have any plans to have any discussions with anyone,” Bethune said Friday without mentioning Delta by name. “I just think it’s time to probably put this all behind us.”

Reports surfaced this month that Houston-based Continental, the nation’s fifth largest airline, initiated talks with Atlanta-based Delta, the third largest.

A merger would have allowed Delta, which has trimmed flights in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, to maintain its dominance in the South. Delta has more routes to Europe than Continental, which is stronger in South and Central America.