Northwest Airlines was a major United States airline founded in 1926 and headquartered in Minnesota. It merged with Delta Air Lines in 2008, with Northwest continuing to operate under its own name until 2010 when the airlines were fully integrated. Northwest was a dominant airline in trans-Pacific and transatlantic routes with hubs in Tokyo, Detroit, Memphis, Amsterdam, and Minneapolis. It operated regional flights under the Northwest Airlink brand before being fully absorbed into Delta.
2. Background
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Major United States airline founded in 1926 and absorbed
into Delta Air Lines Inc. via a merger.
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The merger, approved on October 29, 2008, made Delta
the biggest airline in the world.
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Northwest continued operating under its own name until
the incorporation of the airlines was finished on January
31, 2010.
4. History
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Was headquartered in Eagan, Minnesota near
Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, its main hub.
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Became a dominant airline in the trans-Pacific market after
World War II with a hub in Tokyo, Japan (originally
Haneda Airport, later Narita International Airport).
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Also established major hubs at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne
County Airport and Memphis International Airport in 1986
after it bought Republic Airlines.
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Began a strategic alliance with KLM and a jointlycoordinated European hub at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol
in 1993.
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Detroit and Minneapolis operations were kept as Delta
hubs, even though the Memphis operation has been
lessened from over 300 to less than 100 flights per day;
the non-stop service to Amsterdam has ceased.
7. History (continued)
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Was the worldâs sixth biggest airline with respect to
domestic and international schedule passenger miles
flown before it merged with Delta, and the sixth largest
U.S. airline with respect to domestic passenger miles
flown.
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Apart from operating one of the biggest domestic route
networks in the United States, Northwest carried more
passengers across the Pacific Ocean (5.1 million in 2004)
than any other U.S. carrier; also carried more domestic air
cargo than any other American passenger airline.
9. Regional flights
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NWAâs regional flights were operated under the name
Northwest Airlink by Mesaba Airlines, Pinnacle Airlines,
and Compass Airlines.
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NWA was a minority owner of Midwest Airlines; had a 40%
stake in that company.
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Its company slogan was Now Youâre Flying Smart.
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Its frequent flyer program was WorldPerks.
11. List of Northwest hubs
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Minneapolis-Saint Paul International
Airport (1926-2010)
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Haneda Airport (1947-1978)
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Narita International Airport (19782010)
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Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County
Airport (1986-2010)
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Memphis International Airport (19862010)
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Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (19932010)
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Anchorage International Airport (19912009)
18. WorldClub locations
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The following airports had Northwest Airlines
WorldClub locations:
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Boston
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Chicago OâHare
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Detroit (4)
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Honolulu
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London (Heathrow) â SkyTeam Lounge
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Los Angeles
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Manila
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Milwaukee
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Minneapolis-St. Paul
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Newark
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New York (LaGuardia)
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Portland, OR
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San Francisco
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Seattle/Tacoma
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Tokyo (Narita) (2)
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Washington (Dulles)
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Washington (Reagan)