US Airways Group Inc. said Wednesday it had made a takeover bid for Delta Air Lines Inc., offering 8 billion dollars in cash and stock, to create one of the world's largest carriers.

In a statement, US Airways said it had made a merger proposal to Delta "under which both companies would combine upon Delta's emergence from bankruptcy."

Delta, based in Atlanta, Georgia, and the third-largest U.S. airline, is currently under bankruptcy protection and scheduled to emerge from protection by the middle of 2007.

US Airways, the sixth-largest U.S. carrier, offered Delta's creditors 4 billion dollars in cash and 78.5 million shares of stock with an aggregate value of approximately 4 billion dollars based on the closing price of its stock as of Tuesday, according to the statement.

If the deal was completed, the merged companies would become one of the largest airlines in the world and operate under the Delta name, the statement said.

"As a combined company, the 'New' Delta would be the number one airline across the Atlantic and the second-largest airline to the Caribbean," said the statement.

"The New Delta would reach more than 350 destinations across five continents, including North and South America, Europe, Asia and Africa," it added.

Tempe, Arizona-based US Airways has not decided where the new airline would be based.

Delta, however, seems not interested in a merger.

On Wednesday, Delta spokeswoman Thonnia Lee said that Delta has consistently said that it plans "to emerge from bankruptcy as an independent airline."

US Airways was created after US Air emerged from bankruptcy and was acquired by America West last year.

VietNamNet/Xinhuanet