Delta Adds Routes, Dismisses Merger Talks

Delta Air Lines(DALRQ Quote) CEO Gerald Grinstein said Thursday that United Airlines(UAL Quote) CEO Glenn Tilton approached him about a potential merger roughly 18 months ago.

Grinstein characterized the approach as a "feeler."

"He said, 'Are you interested in talking (about a merger)?' And I said not at all," Grinstein added.

The approach came before Delta sought bankruptcy protection in 2005.

"At the time, we were trying to avoid bankruptcy. If we had to file, we were going to go through an enormous period of change."

Grinstein reiterated that Delta has no interest in a merger. He spoke to reporters at a session in New York during which Delta unveiled several new international routes.

The new destinations from Atlanta, effective 2007, include Prague, Vienna, Dubai and Seoul. New routes from New York, effective 2007, include Shannon, Bucharest and Pisa.