Posted: 6:37 PM- Directors of Delta Air Lines and Northwest Airlines struck a deal this evening for Delta to merge with Northwest and create the world's biggest carrier, with a hub in Salt Lake City.
    The new airline, to be called Delta, will continue to be based in Atlanta, but will have executive offices in Eagan, Minn., where Northwest has its headquarters.
    Delta CEO Richard Anderson will be chief executive officer of the combined company, which will retain the hubs of both Delta and Northwest, including Delta's operations at Salt Lake City International Airport, which could benefit from improved access to international destinations.
   
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    Here is what it means for SLC passengers
    They will have access to the domestic and international destinations of both airlines.
    Here is what it means for Delta employees
    Delta said the agreement protects seniority for pilots and other workers, while also offering more job security and an equity stake in the new company.
    Here is what it means to Salt Lake City International Airport
    The airport remains a hub, meaning it will continue to play a key role in the future of the combined carrier.
"Delta and Northwest are an excellent strategic fit, with complementary and geographically distinct route systems," Delta President Ed Bastian said in a statement.
    "Together, we will have a more robust platform for profitable international growth. Combining both carriers' international land domestic strengths, with our worldwide SkyTeam partners, we are well positioned to lead the industry and deliver value to our shareholders."
    The deal, an all-stock transaction valued at $17.7 billion, awaits approval by federal regulators. It would create the biggest airline in the world in terms of passenger traffic, while preserving seniority protection to employees and giving them equity in the new
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carrier.
    "Today, we are announcing a transaction that is about addition, not subtraction, and combines ... networks that open a world of opportunities for our customers and employees," Anderson said.
    The deal was completed without a prior agreement about seniority from the unionized pilots of both airlines.