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Northwest/Delta airline officials hope that by the end of the year the merging companies will operate under a single federal certificate, Bill Lentsch, Delta senior vice president, told a House committee today.

The companies reached a milestone today with the consolidation of their frequent flier programs — some 80 million members are in the new hybrid, he explained.

No distinctions are made — Northwest frequent flier mileage transfers mile for mile, he explained.

“We feel Delta is very well positioned in the industry going forward,” Lentsch told the House Commerce and Labor Committee.

The merging airlines has about 13,000 jobs in Minnesota — the airlines have a strong presence in Eagan and Chisholm, he said.

Lentsch said it’s close to the end of the movement of employees.

He indicated the airline job level in Minnesota would get nowhere near the 10,000 job limit earlier agreed to with state officials.