UPDATE 1-Delta creditor group supports U.S. Airways offer

(Adds requests for Delta's management, size of committee)

NEW YORK, Jan 29 (Reuters) - An unofficial committee of unsecured creditors of bankrupt Delta Air Lines Inc. DALRQ.PK on Monday urged the official creditors committee to consider the improved proposal by US Airways Group Inc. (LCC.N) to merge with Delta.

In a statement, the committee, which described itself as the largest group of unsecured creditors of Delta, said creditors should have a chance to decide whether to pursue a stand-alone reorganization or a viable alternative.

"The US Airways bid is a viable alternative that should be explored," the committee said.

Delta, which is the target of an unsolicited $10.2 billion takeover offer from US Airways, has said that it wants to exit bankruptcy protection as an independent carrier, but it needs the support of its creditors to succeed.

The committee said Delta's management should provide access to US Airways to perform due diligence and agree to a 30-day continuance of the disclosure statement hearing.

The committee is represented by Jefferies & Co. Inc as its financial adviser and Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP as its legal adviser.

Atlanta-based Delta rejected a Nov. 15 takeover offer from US Airways, but the rival pushed ahead with its bid and raised its offer by about 20 percent earlier this month.

Delta, the No. 3 U.S. carrier, has said its management and advisers were studying the increased bid, but it reiterated that it wanted to exit Chapter 11 independently.