Delta + Northwest = no Memphis hub?

That seems to be the scuttlebutt based on merger rumors between Delta and Northwest. Memphis leaders are nervous, probably because they remember what American Airlines did to TWA's St. Louis hub after their merger a few years ago despite repeated denials on the front end.

But there could be a silver lining. If NW bails out, perhaps Southwest will bail in. Right now Memphians have to drive several hours either direction on I-40 to catch Southwest but Memphis has an advantage over both. Weather. Yes, weather. Nashville Airport is located right next to the J. Percy Priest reservoir, which causes all kinds of fog problems in the fall and winter. Memphis, for some reason, rarely gets any dense fog (a little-known key to Fed Ex's success). Little Rock is, well, Little Rock. Hey, it's a stretch, but we can try.

Otherwise, the thoughts of losing all those high-paid airline employees must be causing some teeth-chattering for King, er Mayor Willie Herenton. But who cares about him, the real losers will be the NW employees themselves, airport employees, the feeder airlines who operate here, service employees, and the various and sundry other operators who make their living off the hub. The trickle down effect is more than a trickle. For the sake of those folks I hope we keep the hub.