Which will be the world’s largest airline?

Delta Air Lines Inc. and Northwest Airlines Corp. reached agreement on a merger deal yesterday that, if approved by regulators, would create the world's largest airline. The combined airline will be headquartered in Atlanta, GA and will retain the Delta name. The merged carrier will have nearly $18 billion enterprise value, and will be run by Delta CEO Richard Anderson. Combined, the new company will serve more than 390 destinations in 67 countries, operating a fleet of nearly 800 aircraft and employ approximately 75,000 people worldwide.

According to Delta, customers will benefit from the combined carrier’s financial stability, as well as the opportunity to fly to more destinations, have more schedule options and more opportunities to earn and redeem frequent flyer miles.

The merger is subject to the approval of Delta and Northwest shareholders and antitrust regulatory approvals. It is expected that the regulatory review period will be completed later this year.

Largest indoor ski resort planned near Atlanta

An Atlanta developer announced plans to build the longest and highest indoor ski dome in the world. The $1 billion Mount Pegasus project would cover 400 acres southeast of the intersection of Georgia 400 and Ga. 53 in Dawsonville. The ski park would have two indoor hockey rinks, five ski runs of varying difficulties, a half-pipe for snowboarding, a snowmobile track, four hotels, 30 restaurants and 800,000 sq. ft. of residential and retail space.

The first indoor ski facility in the United States, a $1.3 billion project called Meadowlands Xanadu, is due to open in 2008 off the New Jersey Turnpike, a few miles from Manhattan.

AirTran to start flights from Orlando to Raleigh/Durham

AirTran Airways is starting daily, non-stop service between Orlando International Airport and Raleigh/Durham, NC, from February 14. The new flight from Orlando will depart at 8:45 am and arrive in Raleigh/Durham at 10:20 am. The return flight from Raleigh/Durham will leave at 9:45 am and arrive in Orlando at 11:25 am. The low-fare carrier will also offer seasonal non-stop flights between Orlando and Minneapolis/St. Paul, as well as to Rochester, NY.

AirTran Airways operates over 750 daily flights throughout the eastern USA and the Midwest. The airline’s principal hub is at Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Airport, and maintains a secondary hub at Orlando International Airport.