Justice Dept. approves Delta-NW merger
 

Do you think this means Delta will join the Star Alliance?

I hope so. We're fortunate to be able to fly almost anywhere direct domestically - except SLC. Delta does fly there direct.

No, Delta/NW will stay in Skyteam. Continental will join Star Alliance.

Skyteam-Delta,Northwest, Air France, KLM, Alitalia,Aeroflot,Korean Air, China Airlines,etc. will stay together.

China Airlines is not Skyteam.

I see, sorry, I was confusing Continental with NW.

Sorry Rkkwan-I meant China Southern airlines!

As you may expect, everybody who flies CO is wondering when the switch will happen. Contractually, once DL and NW merges (i.e. 10/29/08), CO can request to get out of Skyteam in 9 months time.

So, if CO did actually requested that, they could get out by late July 2009. But Skyteam may even let them out earlier.

Joining Star Alliance is a separate matter. I'd assume they want to be in Star immediately after they leave Skyteam, but will there be a gap due to logistics? I have no idea.