The Hillsboro Argus

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In light of the proposed merger between Northwest Airlines Inc. and Delta Air Lines Inc., the five members of the Oregon House delegation have sent a joint letter to both airlines requesting that the post-merger entity continues to offer transpacific air service from Portland International Airport (PDX).

PDX has had intermittent air service to Asia in past decades, and currently provides a nonstop route to Tokyo. In 2001, Portland lost all transpacific service after Delta acquired Western Airlines Inc. The delegation letter, which was spearheaded by Congressman David Wu, seeks to ensure that the Northwest-Delta merger would not result in another loss of service. Comments from the delegation members are below:

Wu was joined in the joint letter by Congressmen Peter DeFazio, Earl Blumenauer and Greg Walden, as well as Congresswoman Darlene Hooley.

"As elected representatives, we have a responsibility to the traveling public, which relies on Northwest's Tokyo route for business and personal air service," Wu said. "Oregon community, business and government leaders have fought to secure and maintain the popular transpacific air service in the past. It is imperative that we continue to protect our vital connection with the Asian continent."

"Good air service is critical to a robust and growing Oregon economy," Rep. DeFazio said. "I hope Oregon's service will be enhanced, rather than reduced, by this merger."

"It's important that Oregon's connections to Asia not be a casualty of this merger," Rep. Blumenauer said.

"The air link between Portland and Asia plays a role in Oregon's economic future, and the delegation will be working to ensure that its value is recognized in this merger," Rep. Hooley said.

"Direct air service to Asia provides an important link to some of Oregon's most important trading partners," Rep. Walden said. "I hope that direct service can be maintained if a merger does in fact take place."