US Airways Group's chief executive called Delta Air Lines' CEO this summer to gauge his interest in a possible merger, according to a newspaper report, citing people familiar with the situation.

Delta CEO Gerald Grinstein told his counterpart at US Airways, Doug Parker, that Delta wasn't interest in starting merger talks because the Atlanta-based airline plans to exit bankruptcy-court protection next spring as a stand-alone carrier, the Wall Street Journal reported.

The newspaper said that no subsequent discussions have occurred between the two airlines. The WSJ said a Delta spokeswoman would not confirm or deny the conversation between Parker and Grinstein.