Huge airline merger may be in works

Single Sign-On: You can use Facebook account to log in to LasVegasSun.com. (We will use your first and last name from your profile.)
Trusted Commenting: Facebook connected users automatically become trusted commenters.

Wednesday, July 12, 2000 | 11:05 a.m.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

DALLAS -- American Airlines parent AMR Corp. is reported to have made a $3.7 billion bid to purchase Northwest Airlines Corp., though the two sides are still far apart.

Sources familiar with the negotiations told the Washington Post and the Dallas Morning News that AMR, parent company of the nation's second-largest airline, has offered $44 per share for Northwest, the nation's number four carrier.

However, Northwest may be looking for in excess of $100 a share, the Post said.

Word of the negotiations surfaced earlier this summer following the proposed acquisition of US Airways, the nation's sixth-largest airline, by UAL Corp., parent company of number one United Airlines.

Analysts also speculate that Delta Air Lines may enter the merger picture with a bid for Continental Airlines.