U.S. OKs Delta-Western Merger

The Transportation Department today granted final approval to Delta Air Lines’ $860-million acquisition of Western Airlines.

The federal agency “decided to make final its Oct. 23 tentative conclusion that the merger would not substantially reduce competition in any market,” a Transportation Department spokesman said. Delta is a dominant air carrier in the South and Southwest, while the bulk of Western’s traffic is along the Pacific Coast and in the West.