And they expect that call soon. House Speaker Greg Curtis, who has met with Delta officials to discuss their needs, said he'll be surprised if Delta's direction isn't determined within two weeks.

Curtis told members of a new airport strategy panel called together by Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker that Delta officials are upbeat about their future in Utah.

"I actually left feeling very good that if there is a merger they want to talk very proactively about airport expansion," Curtis said at the initial meeting of the Air Transportation Promotion Alliance, which is to be co-chaired by Becker and Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr.

Panel members meeting at the City-County Building said they hope - and some are beginning to expect - that the winning suitor for Delta will be Northwest, and not United. That could bode well for Salt Lake's hub, because Northwest does not currently funnel flights through any airport in the region, while United already uses Denver International Airport.

Panelists said they question their ability to influence which company merges with Delta, and instead agreed to focus their efforts on the merging companies' transition team after they make their announcement. Becker said he may convene the next meeting within a week of that announcement.

Joe Zeidner, a panel member and Draper-based general counsel for 1-800-CONTACTS, said the best strategy with any corporate merger is not to act hastily with tax breaks, but to approach the transition team and find out what they need. Offering incentives first can be costly and fail to meet the company's real needs, he said.

Those needs may have as much to do with state and city training of local workers as with tax breaks, he said. Or, the merged airlines may need city staff to help ease their transition.

"There are more things that Utah can offer than just money," he said.

One thing Delta has said publicly that it wants is to direct airport passenger fees into airport enhancements, and not into a light-rail line that is proposed to access the airport. City officials have pledged $35 million toward that Utah Transit Authority project and are looking for revenue.

Salt Lake Chamber President Lane Beattie said the city shouldn't let an investment of a mere $35 million block a deal that could lead to a $2 billion airport overhaul complete with the enhanced international service that Northwest could bring to Delta.

"If there's heartburn [over the rail line], you as mayor can reduce that heartburn in consultation with the Legislature," Beattie told Becker.

Curtis agreed that the rail issue, while a relatively low-cost item, could irritate the airline.

"Don't underestimate the $35 million," he said.

The airport group includes several state lawmakers and business leaders, and a representative from the governor's economic development team.