AC

Delta Air Lines completed its purchase of Northwest Airlines Wednesday, hours after the Justice Department announced the merger that will create the world's new largest airline will save consumers money without hurting competition. The decision removed the last major obstacle to the marriage of the two of the USA's largest airlines. The merger is expected to close by year's end. The new Delta would operate nearly 800 large jets, employ about 75,000 people and produce about $35 billion in annual revenue. American Airlines, currently the world's largest airline, operates 635 large jets, has about 80,000 workers and generates about $23 billion in annual revenue. Justice's approval was not a surprise. The two airlines' route systems have little duplication and their combination did not seem to attract the same level of opposition and controversy that the proposed United-US Airways merger did seven years ago. The Justice Department blocked that deal, citing serious concerns about the...