View source for Northwest Airlines

{{Short description|Defunct airline of the United States (1926–2010)}}
{{Distinguish|China Northwest Airlines|Northwestern Air|Nordwind Airlines}}
{{more citations needed|date=November 2024}}
{{Use American English|date=December 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{Infobox airline
| airline = Northwest Airlines
| logo = Northwest Airlines Logo.svg
| logo_size = 150
| image = Northwest Airlines A-330 (385603864).jpg
| image_size = 333
| alt = Northwest Airlines A330 in 2007
| caption = Northwest Airlines [[Airbus A330]] in 2007
| IATA = NW
| ICAO = NWA
| callsign = NORTHWEST
| founded = {{start date|1926|09|01}}<br />(as ''Northwest Airways'')
| commenced = {{ubl|
  | {{start date|1926|10|01}}<br />(as ''Northwest Airways'')
  | {{start date|1934|04|16}}<br />(as ''Northwest Airlines'')
  | {{start date|1947|07|15}}<br />(as ''Northwest Orient Airlines'')
  | {{start date|1986|10|01}}<br />(as ''Northwest Airlines'')}}
| aoc = 
| ceased = {{ubl|
  | {{end date|1934|04|16}}<br />(as ''Northwest Airways'')
  | {{end date|1947|07|15}}<br />(as ''Northwest Airlines'')
  | {{end date|1986|10|01}}<br />(as ''Northwest Orient Airlines'')
  | {{end date|2010|01|31}}<br />(merged into [[Delta Air Lines]])}}
| bases = 
| hubs = {{ubl|class=nowrap
  | [[Amsterdam Airport Schiphol|Amsterdam]] (1993–2010)
  | [[Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport|Detroit]] (1986–2010)
  | [[Memphis International Airport|Memphis]] (1986–2010)
  | [[Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport|Milwaukee]] (1988–1992) 
  | [[Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport|Minneapolis/St. Paul]] (1926–2010)
  | [[Haneda Airport|Tokyo–Haneda]] (1947–1978)
  | [[Narita International Airport|Tokyo–Narita]] (1978–2010)
  | [[Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport|Washington–National]] (1991–1992)}}
| secondary_hubs = 
| focus_cities = {{nowrap|[[Indianapolis International Airport|Indianapolis]]}}
| frequent_flyer = {{ubl|class=nowrap
  | Free Flight Plan (1981–1986)
  | WorldPerks (1986–2009)}}
| alliance = {{ubl|class=nowrap
  | [[SkyTeam]] (2004–2010)
  | [[Wings Alliance]]}}
| subsidiaries = {{ubl|class=nowrap
  | [[Northwest Airlink]] (1984–2010)
  | Northwest Jet Airlink (1997–2003)}}
| fleet_size = 
| destinations = 
| parent = {{nowrap|[[Delta Air Lines]] (2009–2010)}}
| num_employees = 
| headquarters = 2700 Lone Oak Parkway, [[Eagan, Minnesota|Eagan]], [[Minnesota]], United States
| key_people = {{ubl|class=nowrap
  | [[Richard H. Anderson (businessman)|Richard Anderson]]
  | Doug Steenland }}
| website = {{URL|https://web.archive.org/web/20100102002716/http://nwa.com/|nwa.com}}
}}

'''Northwest Airlines''' (often abbreviated as '''NWA''') was a [[trunk carrier]] and a major airline in the United States that operated from 1926 until it [[Delta Air Lines–Northwest Airlines merger|merged]] with [[Delta Air Lines]] in 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.delta.com/help/nw_merger/index.jsp |title=Delta and Northwest Integration: Merger Updates |publisher=Delta.com |date=January 31, 2010 |access-date=March 5, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141221080614/http://www.delta.com/help/nw_merger/index.jsp |archive-date=December 21, 2014 }}</ref> The merger made Delta the largest airline in the world until the [[American Airlines Group#Merger proposals and plans|American Airlines–US Airways merger]] in 2013.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20080417010009/http://www.nwa.com/features/mergerletter/index.html?intomni=tc.100percentservesV2.hplead Letter from Northwest] Archived April 17, 2008.</ref><ref>[https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702303560204579247953849152692 American Airlines, US Airways Complete Merger] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161111084327/http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702303560204579247953849152692 |date=November 11, 2016 }} WSJ.com. Published December 10, 2013.</ref>

Northwest was headquartered in [[Eagan, Minnesota]], near [[Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport]]. After [[World War II]], it became dominant in the trans-Pacific market with a hub in [[Tokyo, Japan]] (initially [[Haneda Airport]], later [[Narita International Airport]]). In response to [[United Airlines]]' 1985 acquisition of [[Pan Am]]'s Pacific routes, Northwest paid $884 million to purchase [[Republic Airlines]] and then established [[fortress hub]]s at [[Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport]] and [[Memphis International Airport]]. With this merger, NWA established the domestic network necessary to feed its well-established Pacific routes. Lacking a significant presence in Europe, in 1993 it began a strategic alliance with [[KLM]] and a jointly coordinated European hub at [[Amsterdam Airport Schiphol]].

Before its merger with Delta, Northwest was the world's sixth-largest airline in domestic and international scheduled passenger miles flown and the US's sixth-largest airline in domestic passenger miles flown.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.iata.org/ps/publications/wats-passenger-km.htm |title=WATS Scheduled Passenger – Kilometres Flown |publisher=Iata.org |date=December 4, 2012 |access-date=October 4, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104015804/http://www.iata.org/ps/publications/wats-passenger-km.htm/ |archive-date=November 4, 2013  }}</ref> In addition to operating one of the largest domestic route networks in the U.S., Northwest carried more passengers across the Pacific Ocean (5.1&nbsp;million in 2004) than any other U.S. carrier, and carried more domestic air cargo than any other American passenger airline.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.iata.org/pressroom/wats/wats_freight_flown.htm |title=Scheduled Freight Tonne – Kilometres Flown |publisher=Iata.org |date=December 4, 2012 |access-date=October 4, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131006045913/http://www.iata.org/pressroom/wats/wats_freight_flown.htm |archive-date=October 6, 2013  }}</ref>

Regional and commuter airline flights for Northwest were operated under the name [[Northwest Airlink]] by [[Big Sky Airlines]], Eugene Aviation Services, [[Express Airlines I]]/II, [[Fischer Brothers Aviation]], [[Mesaba Airlines]], [[Northeast Express Regional Airlines]], [[Pacific Island Aviation]], [[Pinnacle Airlines]], [[Precision Airlines]], [[Simmons Airlines]] and [[Compass Airlines (North America)|Compass Airlines]] via respective [[code sharing]] agreements.<ref>https://northwestairlineshistory.org/aircraft/ {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210809201137/http://northwestairlineshistory.org/aircraft/ |date=August 9, 2021 }}, Airlink and Express operator and aircraft list</ref>   Northwest Airlines was also a minority owner of [[Midwest Airlines]], holding a 40% stake in the company.<ref name="phx.corporate-ir.net">[https://web.archive.org/web/20081220005103/http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=88626&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1041567&highlight= Northwest Airlines Becomes Minority Owner of Midwest Airlines] (Midwest Airlines Official Press Release: August 17, 2007)</ref>

==History==
===Beginnings===
Northwest Airlines was founded on September 1, 1926, by Colonel Lewis Brittin, under the name '''Northwest Airways''',<ref name="MSNBCHistorystuff"/> a reference to the historical name for the [[Midwestern United States]] that derived from the [[Northwest Territory]].{{citation needed|date=May 2022}} Like other early airlines, Northwest's focus was not in hauling passengers, but in flying mail for the [[U.S. Postal Service|U.S. Post Office Department]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.usps.com/history/his2_5.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080120162651/http://www.usps.com/history/his2_5.htm|url-status=dead|title=Parcel Post|archive-date=January 20, 2008}}</ref> The airline was originally based in [[Detroit, Michigan]].<ref name="MSNBCHistorystuff">"[https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna9344497 Significant events in Northwest's history] ." ''[[Associated Press]]'' at ''[[NBC News]]''. September 14, 2005. Retrieved on January 11, 2012.</ref> The fledgling airline established a mail route between [[Minneapolis]] and [[Chicago]], using open-cockpit biplanes such as the [[Curtiss Oriole]] and the [[Waco Aircraft Company|Waco JYM]]. From 1928 the enclosed cabin six-passenger [[Hamilton H-45]] and H-47 were used.

[[File:NW 1920s logo.png|left|thumb|150px|1920s [[roundel]] logo]]
[[File:Northwest Airlines Ticket.png|thumb|Northwest Airlines passenger ticket from 1951]]
[[File:Waco JYM NC991H N.W.Airlines HARM 10.06.06R.jpg|left|thumb|150px|1929 Northwest Airways Waco JYM used on the Minneapolis-Chicago mail route]]
[[File:Hamilton H-47 N879H Oshkosh 27.07.10R edited-3.jpg|left|thumb|150px|Rebuilt 1929 [[Hamilton H-47]] wearing Northwest Airways markings in 2010]]
[[File:Douglas DC-3 Northwest Airlines.jpg|thumb|Northwest [[Douglas DC-3]]]]
Northwest Airlines began carrying passengers in 1927; in 1928 Northwest started its first international route with service to [[Winnipeg]]. In 1929, a group headed by Richard Lilly, a businessman from [[St. Paul, Minnesota]], purchased the airline.<ref name="MSNBCHistorystuff"/>

In 1933 Northwest was selected to fly the "Northern Transcontinental Route" to [[Seattle]], Washington. It adopted the name '''Northwest Airlines''' the following year after the [[Air Mail scandal]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://airlinefiles.com/historical-events/historic-milestones-item/221-air-mail-scandal.html|title=Air Mail Scandal, April 29th 1930 - airlinefiles|website=airlinefiles.com|access-date=August 6, 2019|archive-date=August 6, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190806220144/https://airlinefiles.com/historical-events/historic-milestones-item/221-air-mail-scandal.html|url-status=usurped}}</ref><ref>''Montana and the Sky: The Beginning of Aviation in the Land of the Shining Mountains'' {{ASIN|B0006BP8GE}} p. 223</ref> Northwest Airways, Inc. changed its name to Northwest Airlines, Inc.<ref>Ward, Paul W. "[https://archive.today/20130131183533/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/baltsun/access/1671611752.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Apr+21,+1934&author=&pub=The+Sun+(1837-1985)&desc=BIG+AIR+LINES+PUT+IN+BIDS+FOR+CARRYING+MAIL&pqatl=google BIG AIR LINES PUT IN BIDS FOR CARRYING MAIL]." ''[[The Sun (Baltimore)|The Sun]]''. April 21, 1934. Start Page 1, 2 pages. Retrieved on January 11, 2012. "Northwest Airways, Inc., which had a 4.69 percent, slice of the 1933 airmail business, reorganized as the Northwest Airlines, Inc., and bid to- day to[...]"</ref> and the airline was incorporated under its new name in the State of Minnesota.<ref name="MSNBCHistorystuff"/>

In 1939 Northwest had five daily flights from Chicago to [[Minneapolis]]; three continued west to Seattle through [[North Dakota]] and [[Montana]]. Northwest also served [[Winnipeg, Manitoba]], and [[Portland, Oregon]], by spurs from its transcontinental route.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://airchive.com/html/timetable-and-route-maps/northwest/1939-august-1/6999# |title=1939 NWA timetable |publisher=Airchive.com |access-date=October 4, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120320075219/http://airchive.com/html/timetable-and-route-maps/northwest/1939-august-1/6999 |archive-date=March 20, 2012 }}</ref>  By the spring of 1948, Northwest was operating three different aircraft types:  the 44-passenger seat [[Douglas DC-4]], the 21-passenger seat [[Douglas DC-3]] and the 36-passenger seat [[Martin 2-0-2]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Northwest Orient Airlines Schedule |date=March 15, 1948 |at=Coast-to-Coast - East Bound |website=Northwest Airlines History Center |url=https://northwestairlineshistory.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/NW-schedule-1948-03-15.pdf |quote=page 3 Flights 402, 302, 208 and 416 under Equipment |access-date=October 22, 2023 |archive-date=October 29, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231029131027/https://northwestairlineshistory.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/NW-schedule-1948-03-15.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Transpacific network development===
In 1931, Northwest sponsored [[Charles Lindbergh|Charles and Anne Lindbergh]] on a pioneering test flight to Japan via Alaska, scouting what would become known as the Northwest Airlines' [[Great-circle navigation|Great Circle]] route that could save {{convert|2000|mi|km|-3}} on a New York to Tokyo flight.{{citation needed|date=November 2024}} Northwest began to bolster the infrastructure on the domestic leg of this route during [[World War II]] when it flew soldiers and supplies from the Northwestern United States to Alaska. It was at this point that Northwest began painting its airliners' tails bright red as a visual aid in the often harsh weather conditions.{{citation needed|date=November 2024}} The airline's experience with the sub-arctic climate led the U.S. government to designate Northwest as the main airline over the North Pacific following the war.{{citation needed|date=November 2024}}

In the spring of 1947, Northwest began stationing employees at [[Haneda Airport]] in Tokyo, flying them from the United States via Alaska on its Great Circle route. On July 15, 1947, Northwest was the first airline to begin direct service between the United States and Japan,<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20000604153559/http://www.nwa.com/corpinfo/upclose/1940.shtml First Commercial Flight from U.S. to Japan: July 15, 1947] (Northwest Airlines Website) Archived June 4, 2000.</ref> using a [[Douglas DC-4]] airliner named ''The Manila''. (All pre-war airline service to [[East Asia]] had been via Hawaii and the Philippines.) The flight to Japan originated at [[Wold-Chamberlain Field]] in Minneapolis and stopped at [[Blatchford Field]] in [[Edmonton]], [[Elmendorf AFB]] in [[Anchorage]], and [[Shemya AAF]] in the western [[Aleutian Islands]]. The flight continued from Tokyo to [[Lunghwa Airport]] in [[Shanghai]] and then to [[Nichols Field]] at [[Manila]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.timetableimages.com/ttimages/complete/nw47/nw47-4.jpg |title=1947 timetable |access-date=October 4, 2013 |archive-date=August 5, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200805192455/http://www.timetableimages.com/ttimages/complete/nw47/nw47-4.jpg |url-status=live }}</ref>

A flight between Tokyo and [[Seoul]] ([[Gimpo Airport]]) began on October 20, 1947, and [[Naha Airport]] in [[Okinawa Prefecture|Okinawa]] began to be a stop on the Tokyo to Manila route on November 16, 1947.{{citation needed|date=November 2024}} Northwest service to Shanghai was suspended in May 1949 because of the civil war in China, with the [[Republic of China (1912–1949)|Republic of China]] on the verge of collapse, and its government evacuated to the island of [[Formosa]] ([[Taiwan]]). Northwest Airlines added [[Songshan Airport]] in [[Taipei]], the new capital city of the [[Republic of China]], as a stop on the Tokyo-Okinawa-Manila route on June 3, 1950, with ongoing interchange service to Hong Kong operated by [[Hong Kong Airways]].{{citation needed|date=November 2024}}

===Northwest Orient Airlines===
{{More citations needed section|date=August 2023}}[[File:Northwest Orient DC-10-40 (6142354648).jpg|left|thumb|222x222px|Northwest Orient [[McDonnell Douglas DC-10]] at [[Detroit Metropolitan Airport]] in 1985.]]
With transpacific flights established, Northwest began branding as '''Northwest Orient Airlines''' between 1947 and 1986,<ref>{{cite web|title=Archives - Organization - Northwest Orient Airlines|website=[[Museum of Flight]]|url=https://archives.museumofflight.org/agents/corporate_entities/167|access-date=October 22, 2023|archive-date=December 5, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231205050657/https://archives.museumofflight.org/agents/corporate_entities/167|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=lacfac>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=hEEqAAAAIBAJ&sjid=5k0EAAAAIBAJ&pg=6411%2C249706 |work=Pittsburgh Press |title=Low air coach fares to all these cities |agency=(advertisement) |date=January 17, 1956 |page=15 |access-date=June 17, 2022 |archive-date=June 17, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220617202349/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=hEEqAAAAIBAJ&sjid=5k0EAAAAIBAJ&pg=6411,249706 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=fb76spk>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=lSBOAAAAIBAJ&pg=4074%2C805050 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington |agency=(advertisement) |title=30% savings |date=February 18, 1976 |page=6 |access-date=October 20, 2020 |archive-date=October 25, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211025074450/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=lSBOAAAAIBAJ&pg=4074%2C805050 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=pppgbmkr>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=L8daAAAAIBAJ&pg=6584%2C4728593 |newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |title=Birth mark |agency=(advertisement) |date=April 30, 1969 |page=5 |access-date=October 20, 2020 |archive-date=October 25, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211025074454/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=L8daAAAAIBAJ&pg=6584%2C4728593 |url-status=live }}</ref> although its registered corporate name remained "Northwest Airlines."

NWA continuously upgraded equipment on the transpacific routes. On June 22, 1949, Northwest received its first double-decker [[Boeing 377|Boeing 377 "Stratocruiser"]], enabling more comfortable accommodations and faster transpacific flights.{{citation needed|date=November 2024}} The Stratocruiser began flying from the West Coast to Honolulu in 1950 and to Tokyo via [[Alaska]] on September 27, 1952.{{citation needed|date=November 2024}}　

In 1954, Northwest Orient purchased [[Douglas DC-6B]]s and started flying them to Tokyo and Manila. In January 1960, Northwest was operating transcontinental [[Lockheed L-188 Electra]] turboprop service nonstop between New York City and Seattle with these flights being part of the airline's service between New York City and Asia with [[Douglas DC-7C]] aircraft being operated on the transpacific legs from Seattle and was also operating Electra propjet flights between Minneapolis/St. Paul, Milwaukee and Chicago [[Midway Airport]] in the north and several destinations in Florida in the south including Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Tampa.<ref>http://northwestairlineshistory.org {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220327010624/http://northwestairlineshistory.org/ |date=March 27, 2022 }}, Digital Archive, Timetables, January 1, 1960, Northwest Orient Airlines system timetable</ref>[[File:Boeing 707-351B N377US NWAL SFO 19.09.70 edited-2.jpg|thumb|right|Boeing 707-351B at [[San Francisco International Airport]] in 1970]]On July 8, 1960, Northwest placed the [[Douglas DC-8]] into service, offering the shortest flight times to East Asia, but within a year the airline was negotiating the sale of the five DC-8s. Northwest retired the last of its Boeing 377 Stratocruisers that September.{{citation needed|date=November 2024}} The airline purchased several [[Boeing 720]]Bs in 1961, and 1963 several new [[Boeing 707]]-320Bs; for a time it adopted the slogan "Northwest Orient: The Fan-Jet Airline". Nonstop transpacific flights became feasible with the introduction of the 707-320B/C. Northwest bought its first [[Boeing 747]]s in 1970 and soon began retiring its smaller 707s. In addition to operating the 747's on transpacific flights, Northwest briefly flew them on its busiest domestic routes as well.{{citation needed|date=November 2024}}

For years Northwest was the largest foreign airline serving Japan.{{citation needed|date=November 2024}} In 1951, Northwest became involved with the founding of [[Japan Air Lines]] (JAL) by leasing airliners and crewmembers to the new airline.{{citation needed|date=November 2024}} In 1952, United States and Japan ratified a regional bilateral aviation treaty, under which Northwest and [[Pan American World Airways]] became the two U.S. airlines in Tokyo.{{citation needed|date=November 2024}} These carriers also received [[freedoms of the air|fifth freedom rights]] to carry passengers from and via Tokyo to other Asian destinations such as [[Seoul]], [[Busan]], [[Taipei]], [[Kaohsiung]], [[Manila]], [[Beijing]], [[Shanghai]], [[Guangzhou]], [[Hong Kong]], [[Bangkok]], [[Kuala Lumpur]] and [[Singapore]]. Northwest also flew passenger routes from Japan to [[Guam]] and [[Saipan]], U.S. possessions in [[Micronesia]].{{citation needed|date=November 2024}}

Northwest's meteorologists, led by Dan Sowa, pioneered the first [[clear-air turbulence]] forecasting system in 1957, important since the airline flew many northern routes over turbulence-prone mountain areas. Northwest remained a leader in turbulence prediction, providing TPAWS (turbulence prediction and warning services) to other airlines.<ref>"McCartney, Scott. [http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05123/498351.stm Airline passenger injuries from turbulence decline]" ([https://web.archive.org/web/20151016195056/http://old.post-gazette.com/pg/05123/498351.stm Archive]) (''[[The Wall Street Journal]]'' at the ''[[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]]'': May 3, 2005) "But the improvement comes from more than just buckling up. Northwest Airlines has been a pioneer in developing forecasting for turbulence and wind shear, and today Northwest sell its daily "turbulence plot" to several other airlines. Northwest is particularly interested in the issue because it flies so much in mountainous areas."</ref>

{{pax
| note = (scheduled flights only, domestic plus international)
| footnote = <ref>Handbook of Airline Statistics (biannual CAB publication)</ref>
| 1951 | 602
| 1955 | 1017
| 1960 | 1654
| 1965 | 3304
| 1970 | 4506
| 1975 | 9471
}}

===Transatlantic and domestic expansion===
[[File:Boeing 727-251 N256US NWAL MIA 07.02.71 edited-2.jpg|thumb|right|[[Boeing 727|Boeing 727-200]] at [[Miami Airport]] in February 1971]]
[[File:Northwest Orient Boeing 747-100 at London Gatwick Airport in June 1983.jpg|thumb|[[Boeing 747]] at [[London Gatwick Airport]] in 1983, in pre-merger Northwest Orient livery]]
[[File:Northwest Airlines Boeing 747-100 at Osaka.jpg|thumb|Boeing 747-100 at [[Osaka International Airport|Osaka Itami Airport]] ca. 1990, in post-merger Northwest livery]]
During the regulated era, Northwest's domestic network was mainly along the northern transcontinental route through Chicago, Minneapolis, and Seattle; New York and Detroit were added in 1945. Northwest also served [[Hawaii]] from the West Coast, and, starting in 1958–59, [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]] and [[Florida]] from Chicago.<ref>[http://airchive.com/html/timetable-and-route-maps/northwest/1961-april-30/7005 1961 map] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120320075317/http://airchive.com/html/timetable-and-route-maps/northwest/1961-april-30/7005 |date=March 20, 2012 }} and [http://airchive.com/html/timetable-and-route-maps/northwest/1974-february-1/7010 1974 map]</ref> On June 1, 1959, Northwest accepted its first [[turboprop]], the [[L-188 Electra]], from the [[Lockheed Corporation]]. Northwest Airlines started flying the three-engine [[Boeing 727-100]] in November 1964;<ref>Roach and Eastwood, 2003, p. 66</ref> many stretched B727-251s followed.

After [[airline deregulation]] in 1978 Northwest began nonstop flights to other Asian cities, returned to China in 1984 after a 34-year hiatus, and strengthened its presence in the southwestern United States. It also began flying to the United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany, and Scandinavia. On May 21, 1984, shareholders in Northwest approved the creation of NWA Inc., a [[Delaware corporation]] that became the holding company of Northwest.<ref>"[https://web.archive.org/web/20000619144142/http://www.nwa.com/corpinfo/upclose/1980.shtml Northwest Historical Timeline 1980's]." Northwest Airlines. Archived June 19, 2000.</ref>

On October 1, [[1986 in aviation|1986]], Northwest merged with [[Republic Airlines]], also based in Minneapolis-St. Paul. It was the largest airline merger at the time and caused operational issues which led the combined carrier to have an on-time performance of just 42 percent in its early days.<ref name="mpr">Moylan, Martin (October 30, 2008) [http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2008/01/09/nwa_history/ Northwest Airlines – a look back at its long history] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629023208/http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2008/01/09/nwa_history |date=June 29, 2011 }}. Minnesota Public Radio.</ref> Through the merger, NWA adopted Republic's three-hub domestic network centered around Detroit, Memphis, and Minneapolis-St. Paul. The combined airline became particularly strong in the first two cities, with a market share of over 80% in each.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.forbes.com/2010/05/11/airlines-merger-economy-opinions-contributors-lee-ohanian.html | work=Forbes | first=Lee E. | last=Ohanian | title=Another Too Big To Fail Firm | date=May 11, 2010 | access-date=September 6, 2017 | archive-date=July 29, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170729205509/https://www.forbes.com/2010/05/11/airlines-merger-economy-opinions-contributors-lee-ohanian.html | url-status=live }}</ref> After the merger, the airline dropped ''Orient'' from its branding.<ref name=ttmots>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=WVlaAAAAIBAJ&pg=6663,4661687 |newspaper=Waycross Journal-Herald |last=Walters |first=Robert |title=Trend toward monopolizing of the skies |date=October 2, 1986 |page=P-3 |access-date=October 20, 2020 |archive-date=October 25, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211025074452/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=WVlaAAAAIBAJ&pg=6663%2C4661687 |url-status=live }}</ref><!--{{Citation needed|date=January 2010}}--> One major reason for the merger was that Northwest's unique position as a domestic and transpacific carrier had been challenged in 1985 when [[United Airlines]] acquired the Pacific Division of [[Pan Am]].<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-02-19-fi-9662-story.html | work=Los Angeles Times | first=Robert E. | last=Dallos | title=Proposed Northwest-Republic Deal : Justice Dept. Cites 'Concern' Over Air Merger | date=February 19, 1986 | access-date=July 14, 2011 | archive-date=November 7, 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107135119/http://articles.latimes.com/1986-02-19/business/fi-9662_1_seniority-lists | url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:N240NW (21071862742).jpg|thumb|left|Northwest was one of the last passenger airlines to fly the [[DC-10]] when its last one was retired on January 8, 2007]]
[[File:Boeing 747-251B, Northwest Airlines AN1371024.jpg|thumb|left|Northwest was also the last major US passenger airline to fly the original series [[Boeing 747]] (pre-400 models)]]
Northwest continued to use the pre-merger Northwest Orient livery (minus the word "Orient") until a new livery and identity (designed by [[Landor Associates]]) were adopted in 1989. The new livery, nicknamed the "bowling shoe" by employees, featured colors of red, white, gray, and very dark blue.{{citation needed|date=November 2024}}

Also in 1989, Northwest became the launch customer of the [[Boeing 747-400]] and became one of only two airlines in the United States to operate it until its merger with [[Delta Air Lines|Delta]] in [[Delta Air Lines–Northwest Airlines merger|2009]]. The first aircraft it purchased was the first 747-400 to be built; it was later involved in a [[Northwest Airlines Flight 85|loss-of-control incident]] in 2002 and placed on display at the [[Delta Flight Museum]] following its retirement by Delta in 2015.{{citation needed|date=November 2024}}

Northwest was purchased in a 1989 [[leveraged buyout]] by an investment group headed by [[Al Checchi]], [[Fred Malek]] and [[Gary L. Wilson|Gary Wilson]], with KLM, and many others. To pay off the debt incurred, the new management sold many of the airline's aircraft to leasing companies, and sold property around the world, including land in central Tokyo. 

[[File:Northwest Airlines-KLM DC-10 hybrid livery Spijkers.jpg|thumb|This Northwest [[DC-10]], [[Aircraft registration|Registration]] N237NW, was painted in a hybrid Northwest-[[KLM]] livery to advertise the alliance between the two airlines  ]]
Also in 1993, Northwest began its strategic alliance with [[KLM]], which was the largest airline partnership at that time. This partnership eventually became the [[Wings Alliance]], but the alliance never grew beyond the two airlines. Northwest gradually pulled out of its minor European destinations and focused on domestic and Asian markets.

On May 1, 1996, Northwest inaugurated the first-ever nonstop service from North America to China, [[Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport|Detroit]]–[[Beijing Capital International Airport|Beijing]].<ref name="Detroit Airport History">{{cite web|title=Detroit Airport History|url=http://www.metroairport.com/TravelerInfo/GeneralInfo/AboutDTW/AirportHistory.aspx|website=metroairport.com|access-date=September 8, 2016|archive-date=September 16, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160916001939/http://www.metroairport.com/TravelerInfo/GeneralInfo/AboutDTW/AirportHistory.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref> Nonstop Detroit–Shanghai service followed in April 2000. These nonstop services were suspended in 2002 due to the outbreak of [[severe acute respiratory syndrome]] (SARS).{{Citation needed|date=November 2007}} Northwest then served these routes via Tokyo. The airline sought government approval to restore nonstop Detroit–Shanghai service in March 2007 but lost its bid to [[United Airlines|United]]'s [[Washington Dulles International Airport|Washington]]–Beijing route; however, before their merger with [[Delta Air Lines]], Northwest received tentative authority to restart nonstop Detroit–Shanghai service starting March 25, 2009.

Through the late 1990s and early 2000s, Northwest enjoyed profits and focused on improving technology to increase convenience and reduce costs. The airline offered airport self-service check-in kiosks starting in 1997 and had more than any other airline. Northwest was the first large U.S. airline to offer internet check-in to passengers, with service from December 2000.{{citation needed|date=November 2024}} During the early 2000s decade, Northwest acquired a reputation for refusing to adopt industry-wide fare increases that had been accepted by other airlines. This changed in March 2005, when Northwest adopted fare hikes in response to rising oil prices.{{citation needed|date=November 2024}}

[[File:Northwest Airlines 1989-2003.svg|thumb|150px|NWA logo, 1989–2003]]
[[File:Boeing 757-300 (Northwest Airlines) (292516996).jpg|thumb|250px|757-351 in the "Bowling Shoe" livery, used from 1989 until 2003.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aerotime.aero/rytis.beresnevicius/22870-most-beautiful-liveries|title=Top 10 Most Beautiful Airline Liveries Of All Time|publisher=Aerotime Hub|last=Beresnevicius|first=Rytis|date=January 21, 2019|access-date=July 16, 2020|archive-date=July 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200717000506/https://www.aerotime.aero/rytis.beresnevicius/22870-most-beautiful-liveries|url-status=dead}}</ref>]]
Due to competition from [[low-cost carrier]]s such as [[Southwest Airlines]] and the impact of paying increased wages in a new contract with employees represented by the [[Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association]] (AMFA) [[labor union]], Northwest began to make cutbacks in early 2001. Two small rounds of employee layoffs and other cutbacks were implemented in the months before the [[September 11 attacks]]. Following the attacks, Northwest was forced to make dramatic changes to its business structure through major employee layoffs and other cost-cutting measures. The retirement of costly and aging aircraft such as the [[Boeing 727]] and [[McDonnell Douglas DC-10-40]] were accelerated as new aircraft went into service. In addition, the airline pursued options to reduce costs across the board, including removing pillows, peanuts, pretzels, [[in-flight entertainment]] on domestic flights, and newspapers and magazines. Over 50 [[McDonnell Douglas DC-9]], [[Boeing 757]], [[Boeing 747]], and [[Airbus A320 family]] aircraft were withdrawn from use in an attempt to lower overall capacity and save money. Some of these aircraft were returned to service.{{Citation needed|date=May 2009}}

Following many years of a pioneering and close partnership with KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Northwest, along with partners KLM and [[Continental Airlines]], joined [[SkyTeam]], an [[airline alliance|alliance]] of ten airlines from around the world, on September 15, 2004. This was partially a result of [[Air France]] merging with KLM, forming the [[Air France-KLM]] group. Northwest continued to hemorrhage money, however.

===Bankruptcy===
Northwest filed for [[Chapter 11]] bankruptcy protection for the first time in its 79-year history on September 14, 2005, a day before a scheduled $65 million pension payment, and during a strike by its mechanics' union. With Northwest's filing, four of the six largest U.S. carriers were operating under bankruptcy protection: Northwest joined [[Delta Air Lines]] (which filed just minutes before), [[United Airlines]], and [[US Airways]] in bankruptcy. Northwest CEO Doug Steenland said that high fuel prices forced the airline to seek court protection; the relatively high age of Northwest's fleet exacerbated the impact of fuel prices on its finances.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Carey |first1=Susan |title=Northwest Airlines Files for Chapter 11 |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB112672434522540703 |access-date=6 January 2025 |work=The Wall Street Journal |date=14 September 2005}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Perez |first1=Evan |title=Delta, Northwest See Bankruptcy As Key to Revival |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB112671083630940483 |access-date=6 January 2025 |work=The Wall Street Journal |date=15 September 2005}}</ref>

In the following weeks, Northwest Airlink carriers [[Mesaba Airlines]] and [[Pinnacle Airlines]] both announced that Northwest Airlines had missed payments to them for their Airlink flying. Northwest also announced plans to shrink its Airlink fleet by over 45 aircraft. Mesaba Aviation filed for [[Chapter 11 Bankruptcy]] on October 13, 2005.<ref>{{cite news|title=Northwest Partner Files for Protection|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9502E0D6173FF937A25753C1A9639C8B63&scp=2&sq=Mesaba%20Aviation%20bankruptcy%20%20october&st=cse|work=The New York Times|date=October 14, 2005|access-date=February 9, 2010|archive-date=June 4, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604145405/http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9502E0D6173FF937A25753C1A9639C8B63&scp=2&sq=Mesaba%20Aviation%20bankruptcy%20%20october&st=cse|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Northwest Airlines A320 upon takeoff at San Jose International Airport.jpg|thumb|left|A320-212 at [[San Jose International Airport|San Jose]] in Northwest's final livery (2004-2010) before its closure.]] Following its bankruptcy filing, Northwest renegotiated its labor contracts, lowering its highest level of flight attendant pay from $44,190 to $35,400.<ref>{{cite news |title=Northwest exits Chapter 11, enters new era |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna18946406 |access-date=6 January 2025 |work=NBC News |agency=AP |date=31 May 2007}}</ref> Northwest stock resumed trading on a "when-issued" basis on May 21, 2007, and regular trading began on May 31, 2007. On May 18, 2007, Northwest Airlines was cleared by a federal bankruptcy judge to emerge from Chapter 11 Bankruptcy protection on May 31, 2007, ending Northwest's 20 months of difficulty trying to slash costs.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.startribune.com/535/story/1192189.html |title=Northwest clear to exit Chapter 11 |publisher=Startribune.com |date=May 19, 2007 |access-date=October 4, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071020111833/http://www.startribune.com/535/story/1192189.html |archive-date=October 20, 2007  }}</ref>

On July 16, 2007, Northwest Airlines applied to the [[United States Department of Transportation]] for nonstop service between its WorldGateway hub in Detroit to Shanghai (beginning in 2007 on [[Boeing 747-400]]s) and to Beijing (beginning in 2010 on [[Boeing 787 Dreamliner]]s).{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}} The airline faced off against [[Delta Air Lines]] (which proposed Atlanta to Shanghai and Beijing), [[American Airlines]] (Chicago/O'Hare–Beijing), [[Continental Airlines]] (Newark–Shanghai), [[US Airways]] (Philadelphia–Beijing), [[United Airlines]] (Los Angeles–Shanghai and San Francisco–Guangzhou), and [[MAXjet]] (Seattle–Shanghai) in the route competition.{{Citation needed|date=May 2009}}

On August 12, 2007, Northwest Airlines became a passive investor in the purchase of [[Midwest Airlines]] by [[TPG Capital]]. The airline stated that while it was an investor, it would not participate in any management or control of [[Midwest Airlines]].<ref>[http://www.nwa.com/corpinfo/newsc/2007/pr081320071878.html Northwest Airlines To Become Passive Investor of Midwest Airlines] (Official Press Release: August 13, 2007)</ref> However, on August 14, 2007, [[AirTran Airways]] raised their offer for Midwest to $16.25 a share, 25 cents more than the TPG offer.<ref>[https://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/2007-08-14-airtran-midwest_N.htm Northwest Airlines and TPG Bid Now In Competition with AirTran Airways] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110523162543/http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/2007-08-14-airtran-midwest_N.htm |date=May 23, 2011 }} (USA Today: August 14, 2007)</ref> But soon after on August 17, 2007, [[TPG Capital]] raised their offer to $17.00 a share which sealed the deal. Northwest Airlines became a minority owner of [[Midwest Airlines]] in the fourth quarter of 2007.<ref name="phx.corporate-ir.net"/>

On September 25, 2007, Northwest Airlines received DOT approval to begin service to Shanghai from its Detroit hub beginning March 25, 2009. American, Continental, Delta, and US Airways also received new or additional China route authority to Shanghai or Beijing, and United received authority to serve Guangzhou.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Travel/delta-united-airlines-crack-china-routes/story?id=3649633|title=Delta, United airlines get first crack at new China routes|publisher=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]]|last=Mutzabaugh|first=Ben|date=September 25, 2007|access-date=July 16, 2020|archive-date=July 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200717051328/https://abcnews.go.com/Travel/delta-united-airlines-crack-china-routes/story?id=3649633|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Merger with Delta Air Lines===
{{main|Merger of Delta Air Lines and Northwest Airlines}}
[[File:DL-NW Tails.svg|thumb|Most common symbol for the merger]]
On April 14, 2008, Northwest Airlines announced that it would be merging with [[Delta Air Lines]] to form the world's largest airline. The merger was approved on October 29, 2008. The CEO during the merger of Delta and Northwest was [[Richard H. Anderson (businessman)|Richard Anderson]] who was Northwest Airlines CEO from 2001 to 2004. The combined airline uses the Delta name and branding. On October 1, 2009, Northwest WorldPerks merged into [[SkyMiles]]. On January 31, 2010, Delta completed the merge of the reservation systems and discontinued using the Northwest name for flights. The official final flight was Northwest Airlines Flight 2470 from Los Angeles to Las Vegas.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blog.delta.com/2010/02/05/employees-celebrate-another-merger-milestone/ |title=Delta Air Lines Blog &#124; Employees Celebrate Another Merger Milestone |publisher=Blog.delta.com |date=February 5, 2010 |access-date=March 5, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100214064229/http://blog.delta.com/2010/02/05/employees-celebrate-another-merger-milestone/ |archive-date=February 14, 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.atwonline.com/news/story.html?storyID=19255|title=ATW Daily News|date=February 2, 2010|publisher=Atwonline.com|access-date=March 5, 2010}}{{Dead link|date=December 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} <!-- Remove this comment when fixing the dead link: http://www.atwonline.com/news/story.html?storyID=19255 -->{{Dead link|date=December 2013|bot=Theo's Little Bot}}</ref>

===NWA Cargo===
As of 2006, Northwest Airlines Cargo was the largest cargo carrier among U.S. combination passenger and cargo airlines. NWA Cargo's fleet of dedicated {{Nowrap|Boeing 747}} freighter aircraft flew from some key cities in the United States and East Asia, as well as Amsterdam, connecting with the carrier's cargo hub in Anchorage, Alaska ([[Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport]]), facilitating the quick transfer of cargo between large cities on both sides of the Pacific. NWA Cargo also transports freight aboard the passenger fleet of Northwest Airlines to more than 250 cities worldwide. Delta announced that the NWA Cargo hub will be shut down by the end of 2009. As of early 2008, NWA's largest cargo client was DHL International. In December 2007, NWA announced that DHL International would terminate its cargo agreement with the airline effective late 2008. According to NWA Chief Financial Officer Dave Davis, the loss of its largest cargo client would bring significant changes to the division. Further changes to the NWA Cargo division continued into 2009 as it was merged into the Delta Cargo service. NWA Cargo ended all operations on December 28, 2009. On July 30, 2010, Northwest pleaded guilty to one count of felony [[price fixing]] for fixing prices for cargo shipping via NWA Cargo.<ref>{{cite news|title=Delta's Northwest pleading guilty to price fixing|first=Diane|last=Bartz|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/businessNews/idUSTRE66T47D20100730|work=[[Reuters]]|publisher=[[Thomson Reuters]]|date=July 30, 2010|access-date=July 30, 2010|archive-date=April 22, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230422013623/https://www.reuters.com/article/businessNews/idUSTRE66T47D20100730|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Northwest Airlines Cargo, Boeing 747.jpg|thumb|Northwest Cargo Boeing 747 at [[Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport]] (2008)]]

==Corporate affairs and identity==
===Headquarters===
[[File:NWAHeadquartersMinneapolisMN.jpg|thumb|left|Entrance sign to Northwest Airlines headquarters in [[Eagan, Minnesota|Eagan]]]]
Immediately before Northwest ceased being an independent airline, its headquarters was in Building A,<ref name="BuildingAGone">Grayson, Katharine. "[http://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/stories/2009/06/08/daily57.html Delta CEO: We'll consolidate MSP office space] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140314170748/http://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/stories/2009/06/08/daily57.html |date=March 14, 2014 }}." ''[[Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal]]''. Friday June 12, 2009. Last modified on Monday June 15, 2009. Retrieved on January 19, 2012.</ref> a facility in [[Eagan, Minnesota|Eagan]], Minnesota,<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20100102082320/http://nwa.com/services/shipping/cargo/about/creditapp.pdf Northwest Airlines Credit Application]. ''Northwest Airlines''. Archived January 2, 2010.</ref><ref>"[http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2008/04/14/midmorning3/ NWA pilots threaten to oppose merger] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110608163653/http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2008/04/14/midmorning3/ |date=June 8, 2011 }}." ''[[Minnesota Public Radio]]''. April 14, 2008. Retrieved on July 28, 2009.</ref> near [[Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport]] and the intersection of [[Interstate 35E (Minnesota)|I-35E]] and [[Interstate 494]].<ref name="FeyderHQ">Feyder, Susan. "[http://www.startribune.com/business/63721102.html?elr=KArksD:aDyaEP:kD:aU1ccmiUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aU7DYaGEP7vDEh7P:DiUs Delta Air Lines putting Northwest's onetime HQ up for sale or lease] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091026031945/http://www.startribune.com/business/63721102.html?elr=KArksD:aDyaEP:kD:aU1ccmiUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aU7DYaGEP7vDEh7P:DiUs |date=October 26, 2009 }}." ''[[Star Tribune]]''. October 7, 2009. Retrieved on December 27, 2009.</ref> The {{convert|266899|sqft|sqm|adj=on}} building in the complex, which housed about 1,000 Northwest employees, was built in 1985.<ref name="FeyderHQ"/> The building had a large "N" painted on the roof.<ref name="BuildingAGone"/>

After Delta and Northwest merged, Delta moved the Eagan headquarters employees to other offices in the [[Minneapolis–Saint Paul]] area. In October 2009 Delta Air Lines hired a real estate broker to put the {{convert|108|acre|ha|adj=on}} former Northwest Airlines headquarters complex for sale or lease. During that month the facility had a taxable value of $13.7 million. The airline marketed {{convert|36|acre|ha}} of the former NWA facility that is located along Interstate 494 separately from the main part of the property, as the airline considered the property to be excess. Terry Kingston, the executive director of the real estate brokerage firm [[Cushman & Wakefield]], stated that there had been some interest in the Northwest Airlines property from other parties.<ref name="FeyderHQ"/> Northwest was the only occupant of the four-story headquarters building.<ref name="NWHQOnMarket">"[http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2009/10/08/delta-selling-northwest-hq/ Delta puts Northwest headquarters in Eagan on the market] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091011081548/http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2009/10/08/delta-selling-northwest-hq/? |date=October 11, 2009 }}." ''[[Minnesota Public Radio]]''. October 8, 2009. Retrieved on February 1, 2011.</ref> Employees remaining in the Minneapolis area were moved to Building C,<ref name="BuildingAGone"/> the former [[Republic Airlines]] headquarters building,<ref>Niemela, Jennifer. "[http://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/stories/2008/12/15/daily14.html Delta reaches deal on Minnesota jobs] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200927040842/https://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/stories/2008/12/15/daily14.html |date=September 27, 2020 }}." ''[[Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal]]''. Tuesday December 16, 2008. Retrieved on January 19, 2012.</ref> located on the property of [[Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport]], as well as Building J located in Eagan.<ref>"[http://mymspconnect.com/events/delta-air-lines-farmers-market-building-c delta air lines' farmers market-building c] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210119190051/http://mymspconnect.com/events/delta-air-lines-farmers-market-building-c |date=January 19, 2021 }}." [[Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport]]. Retrieved on January 19, 2012. "Location:  MSP Airport-Delta Building C, North Side near Compass Airlines Entrance"</ref>

Before the headquarters were in Eagan, they were on the grounds of Minneapolis–St. Paul International Airport.<ref>''World Airline Directory''. Flight International. March 20, 1975. In 2011 Delta renewed the Northwest Airlines trademark while using a small NWA logo briefly on its website. The web names NorthWestAirlines.com, NWA.com, and NorthWestOrient.com now rollover to the Delta website. [http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1975/1975%20-%200560.html 496] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023143143/http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1975/1975%20-%200560.html |date=October 23, 2012 }}. "Head Office: Minneapolis – St Paul International Airport, St Paul, Minnesota 55111, USA."</ref><ref>"World Airline Directory." ''Flight International''. March 30, 1985. [http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1985/1985%20-%200964.html 104] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120208083118/http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1985/1985%20-%200964.html |date=February 8, 2012 }}. Retrieved on July 23, 2009. "Head Office: Minneapolis-St Paul International Airport, St Paul, Minnesota 55111, USA."</ref>

===Labor relations===
{{More citations needed section|date=May 2009}}
A recurring issue in Northwest's history was its troubled labor relations. In 1998, Northwest walked away from the bargaining table, locked out its pilots (represented by the [[Air Line Pilots Association, International]]) and shut down the airline for more than two weeks. The airline sustained heavy losses as a result, and ended 1998 in the red, after being profitable since 1993.<ref>[http://www.nmb.gov/publicinfo/pr061898.html Press Release re: Northwest Airlines] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017025958/http://www.nmb.gov/publicinfo/pr061898.html |date=October 17, 2012 }} [[National Mediation Board]] June 18, 1998</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20030323203636/http://aabss.org/journal1999/f29Schultz.html Northwest Airlines Strike and Labor Negotiations] American Association of Behavioral and Social Sciences (AABSS)</ref><ref>[https://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/transportation/july-dec98/northwest_9-1.html Grounded] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140101033615/http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/transportation/july-dec98/northwest_9-1.html |date=January 1, 2014 }} [[Public Broadcasting Service]] September 1, 1998</ref>

On January 5, 2000, Northwest Airlines filed a federal [[lawsuit]] against the [[Teamsters|flight attendants' union]] and a number of [[wikt:rank and file|rank-and-file]] employees.<ref>"[http://cyber.law.harvard.edu/digitaldiscovery/digdisc_library_1.html CASE STUDY: Northwest Airlines] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160204161912/http://cyber.law.harvard.edu/digitaldiscovery/digdisc_library_1.html |date=February 4, 2016 }}." ''[[Berkman Center for Internet and Society]]''. Retrieved on November 29, 2009.</ref> Along with its January 5 complaint, Northwest Airlines filed a [[motion (legal)|motion]] for [[discovery (law)|discovery]], requesting [[search and seizure|searches]] of the [[hard drives]] of the office and home computers of union officials. Additionally, Northwest requested searches of the home computers of [[wikt:rank and file|rank-and-file]] employees, including Kevin Griffin and Frank Reed. On February 8, [[United States District Court for the District of Minnesota|Minnesota District Court]] Judge Boylan approved the request and issued the discovery order. The order required all 43 named [[defendant]]s, officers and [[wikt:rank and file|rank-and-file]] members to turn over both home and office computer equipment to the accounting company [[Ernst & Young]] for "purposes of examining and copying information and communications contained on the [[hard disk drive|computer hard drives]]." The order permitted the discovery of all data, including e-mail communications. After conducting discovery, Northwest Airlines [[Termination of employment|fired]] over a dozen employees in early March, stating that they had engaged in a [[sickout]]. The Union filed grievances claiming none of the employees' sick calls were false. The [[Chilling effect (term)|effect]] on intra-airline email use was marked: [[Internet forum#Post|postings]] critical of Northwest Airlines by employees dwindled, and the majority of messages after the search were posted [[Anonymous Coward|anonymously]].{{Citation needed|reason=No source provided|date=April 2024}}

[[File:B753.jpg|thumb|Northwest Airlines 757-351 in the "bowling shoe" livery (2006)]]

On August 20, 2005, after months of negotiations, an impasse declared by the [[National Mediation Board|NMB]] and a [[30-day cooling off period]], the over 4,750 Northwest aircraft [[mechanic]]s, janitors, and aircraft [[cleaners]] represented by [[AMFA]] went on [[strike action|strike]] against the company. After numerous negotiation sessions, no agreement was reached, and the company began hiring permanent replacement workers. In mid-October, after permanently hiring about 500 non-union workers, Northwest made a final offer to the union. The offer would have saved 500 union jobs and offered four weeks of severance pay to terminated employees. This offer was worse than the original declined by the union, which would have saved over 2,000 jobs and offered 16 weeks of severance pay. On October 20, 2005, AMFA announced that it would not allow its members to vote on the offer, citing that parts of the contract would violate the union's commitment to its members. Finally, in late December 2005, Northwest made what it termed its "final offer" to the union. The agreement would have terminated all striking workers and given them rights to unemployment compensation. The union voted down the offer. On October 9, 2006, AMFA leadership and Northwest reached an agreement.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.amfanatl.org/Pages/06_News&Information/NWA/20061009_Strike_Settle_Agreement-TA.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080910133353/http://www.amfanatl.org/Pages/06_News%26Information/NWA/20061009_Strike_Settle_Agreement-TA.pdf|url-status=dead|title=Strike settlement agreement|archive-date=September 10, 2008}}</ref> Under the settlement, all AMFA workers still on strike as of that date were converted to lay-off status with five weeks of severance pay (ten weeks if they resigned from Northwest). However, these employees had a right-of-recall to their old jobs. The settlement was approved on November 6, 2006.<ref>[http://www.amfa32.com/news/detail2.asp?id=110 Northwest Airlines Strike Settlement Approved] (November 6, 2006) {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080412195931/http://www.amfa32.com/news/detail2.asp?id=110 |date=April 12, 2008 }}</ref>

On May 30, 2007, it was announced that the flight attendants narrowly agreed to concessions and became the last major workgroup at Northwest to agree to new contract terms. The deal was approved by a vote of 2,966 to 2,862. Union leaders said that 90.5 percent of eligible voters cast ballots. The new contract would provide Northwest with $1.9&nbsp;billion in annual cuts through 2011.<ref>[http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2007/08/travel_nwa.html A Seething Summer of Discontent for Northwest Airlines] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110919221219/http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2007/08/travel_nwa.html |date=September 19, 2011 }} Dan Schlossberg. August 1, 2007. [[ConsumerAffairs.com]]</ref><ref>[http://www.leg.state.mn.us/lrl/issues/nwa.asp Northwest Airlines and the State of Minnesota] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091105144142/http://www.leg.state.mn.us/lrl/issues/nwa.asp |date=November 5, 2009 }} Minnesota Legislative Reference Library</ref><ref>[http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2007/02/15/nwaplan/ Northwest Airlines projects it'll be worth $7B post-bankruptcy] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080620005535/http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2007/02/15/nwaplan/ |date=June 20, 2008 }} Martin Moylan. [[Minnesota Public Radio]]. February 15, 2007.</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20150403093708/http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS161600 + January 29, 2008+BW20080129 Northwest Airlines Reports Full Year 2007 Results] January 29, 2008. [[Reuters]]</ref>

Negotiations with attendants had been ongoing and contentious for several years. The flight attendants were unable to strike during negotiations because of a court injunction and the refusal of the mediation board to release them from bargaining which would have allowed the setting of a strike deadline. The attendants had been working under imposed pay cuts and work rules since July 2006 when a previous tentative agreement was rejected by 55 percent of the voting members.<ref>[http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2006/07/31/flightattendants/ Flight attendants reject new contract with Northwest] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110420020636/http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2006/07/31/flightattendants/ |date=April 20, 2011 }} [[Minnesota Public Radio]] July 31, 2006.</ref><ref>[http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2006/08/17/flightattendants/ Judge rules Northwest flight attendants can strike] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110608083505/http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2006/08/17/flightattendants/ |date=June 8, 2011 }} [[Minnesota Public Radio]] August 17, 2006.</ref><ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/26/business/26air.html Northwest Walkout Is Blocked] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161229004053/http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/26/business/26air.html |date=December 29, 2016 }} [[New York Times]] August 26, 2006.</ref><ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/15/AR2006091501020.html U.S. Judge Prohibits Strikes at Northwest] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170708164628/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/15/AR2006091501020.html |date=July 8, 2017 }} [[Washington Post]] September 16, 2006.</ref>

Prior to the May 2007 agreement, union leaders had expressed concern that its defeat could prompt the National Mediation Board to recess talks indefinitely, resulting in the loss of a $182 million bankruptcy claim the attendants had against Northwest. With the new agreement, the $182 million claim was to eventually be sold for cash with an estimated pre-tax value of $15,000 to $18,000 per flight attendant.{{citation needed|date=November 2024}}

Previous to the recent agreements, Northwest provided employees with stock in exchange for concessions. For example, in 1993 Northwest pilots, ground workers, and flight attendants received stock and seats on the board of directors in exchange for pay cuts.{{Citation needed|reason=Unsourced assertion|date=April 2024}} As part of the agreement, Northwest was to buy back these preferred shares in 2003 but refused to do so, citing financial distress.{{Citation needed|reason=Source needed|date=April 2024}}

In the summer of 2007, Northwest was engaged in a labor conflict with its pilots over a large number of end of the month flight cancellations.{{Citation needed|reason=Again no citation provided|date=April 2024}} The pilots claimed that Northwest did not have sufficient pilots to fly its schedule; Northwest accused the pilots of calling in sick to create the problem.{{Citation needed|reason=No source cited|date=April 2024}}

==Destinations==
[[File:Northwest Airlines A330-323 (N805NW) landing at London Gatwick Airport.jpg|thumb|left|Northwest Airlines [[Airbus A330#300|A330-323X]] landing at [[London Gatwick Airport]]]]

Following the Republic merger in 1986, Northwest primarily operated on a [[hub and spoke]] route system with hubs in Detroit, Memphis, Minneapolis/St. Paul, and Tokyo. Under the KLM joint venture started in 1993, the two carriers established an Amsterdam hub where transatlantic routes operated by Northwest linked with European, African, and Asian routes operated by KLM.{{citation needed|date=November 2024}} Northwest also operated a few routes outside this hub system, such as flights from the west coast to Honolulu.{{citation needed|date=November 2024}}

In the mid-1980s, Northwest operated the only U.S. [[flag carrier]] service to [[Glasgow]], Oslo, and [[Stockholm]], as well as service to [[Copenhagen]] (the latter three cities are due to Minneapolis's large [[Scandinavian Americans|Nordic population]]).{{citation needed|date=November 2024}} However, this was later withdrawn after several years.{{citation needed|date=November 2024}} From April 2000, Northwest operated non-stop flights from [[Detroit Metropolitan Airport|Detroit]] to [[Milan–Malpensa Airport|Milan]] and [[Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport|Rome]], both were later withdrawn (from 2003 to 2005 Rome was served only during the summer season). In 2009, under the banner of [[Delta Air Lines|Delta]], service to Rome was then resumed for the summer season.{{citation needed|date=November 2024}}

In 1991, Northwest began service to Australia, after United and [[Qantas]] began non-stop flights to the continental U.S. using the newly introduced, long-range 747-400. Northwest routed its Sydney–New York flight through Osaka, which raised Japanese protest because less than 30% of passengers on the Australia–Japan segment were originating in the U.S.<ref>{{cite news |author=Published: March 12, 1993 |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F0CE7DE1631F931A25750C0A965958260 |title=Northwest Airlines Past Route To Australia |newspaper=New York Times |date=March 12, 1993 |access-date=October 4, 2013 |archive-date=October 16, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071016173452/http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F0CE7DE1631F931A25750C0A965958260 |url-status=live }}</ref>

On May 1, 1996, Northwest began the first-ever non-stop service from North America to mainland China, from [[Detroit Metropolitan Airport|Detroit]] to [[Beijing Capital International Airport|Beijing]], three times a week.<ref name="Detroit Airport History"/>  From 1996 until 2002, Northwest operated nonstop flights from its Detroit hub to Beijing and Shanghai. Eventually, these routes were suspended. When that happened, Northwest operated these routes from Detroit with a connection at its Tokyo–Narita hub. However, on July 16, 2007, Northwest re-applied with the US Department of Transportation for nonstop service between Detroit and both Beijing and Shanghai.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nwa.com/corpinfo/newsc/2007/pr071620071861.html |title=Northwest Airlines Announces Bid For U.S.-China Nonstop Service |publisher=Nwa.com |access-date=October 4, 2013}}</ref> On September 25, 2007, the US Department of Transportation tentatively awarded authority to Northwest for a new Detroit to Shanghai (Pudong) route effective March 25, 2009. The route was to be flown using the [[Boeing 747-400]] until the [[Boeing 787 Dreamliner]] aircraft became available, however, the Detroit–Shanghai nonstop route was taken over by [[Delta Air Lines|Delta]] on October 24, 2009, using its Boeing 777-200ER and Boeing 777-200LR aircraft after Delta ended nonstop service between Atlanta and Shanghai due to weak customer demand. The Detroit-Beijing nonstop route was later launched by the merged Delta using a Boeing 777-200ER on July 1, 2011.

In 2008, Northwest was one of several U.S. airlines to receive permission from the British government to fly into Heathrow Airport in London after previously having to use Gatwick Airport. Northwest began service to Heathrow from its hubs in Detroit and Minneapolis, as well as starting Seattle-London service. However, after being acquired by Delta in 2008, the Seattle route was dropped in January 2009 so the Heathrow [[landing slot]] and aircraft used could be redeployed to a more profitable route. In 2009, the Heathrow routes from the Detroit and Minneapolis hubs were taken over by Delta using its [[Boeing 767|Boeing 767-400ER]] aircraft.

===Codeshare agreements===
Throughout its existence, Northwest Airlines had [[codeshare agreement]]s with the following airlines:

{{div col}}
* [[Air China]]
* [[Air France]]
* [[Alaska Airlines]]
* [[Alitalia]]
* [[Asiana Airlines]]
* [[America West Airlines]] {{small|(codeshared on flights from Asia)}}
* [[Envoy Air|American Eagle]]
* [[China Airlines]]
* [[China Southern Airlines]]
* [[Continental Airlines]] {{small|(Discontinued after Continental left SkyTeam.)}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.continental.com/web/en-US/content/news/alliancefaq.aspx |title=Continental Airlines – Continental to Join Star Alliance – Frequently Asked Questions |publisher=Continental.com |access-date=March 5, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100219143625/http://www.continental.com/web/en-US/content/news/alliancefaq.aspx |archive-date=February 19, 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.continental.com/web/en-US/content/company/alliance/northwest.aspx |title=Continental Airlines – Earn OnePass Miles on Airline Partner |publisher=Continental.com |access-date=March 5, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091014025059/http://www.continental.com/web/en-US/content/company/alliance/northwest.aspx |archive-date=October 14, 2009 }}</ref>
* [[Czech Airlines]]
* [[Delta Air Lines]] {{small|(Merger partner)}}
* [[Gulfstream International Airlines]]
* [[Hawaiian Airlines]]
* [[Horizon Air]]
* [[Japan Airlines]]
* [[Kenya Airways]]
* [[KLM]]
* [[KLM Cityhopper]]
* [[Korean Air]]
* [[Malév Hungarian Airlines]]
* [[Midwest Airlines]]
* [[Pinnacle Airlines]]
{{div col end}}

==Fleet==
{{Main|Northwest Airlines fleet}}
[[File:N362NW-2008-09-13-YVR.jpg|thumb|Northwest Airlines [[Airbus A320]] landing at [[Vancouver International Airport]]]]
At the time of the merger with [[Delta Air Lines]], Northwest had a total of 320 aircraft with seven on order. It was also the last U.S. passenger airline to have a dedicated cargo fleet and cargo-only routes. The Northwest fleet was integrated into Delta's fleet on December 31, 2009.

Northwest operated a mixed fleet of Boeing, McDonnell Douglas, and Airbus aircraft whereas Delta operated just Boeing and McDonnell Douglas aircraft. The Boeing 757 was the only type common to the pre-merger fleets of both Delta and Northwest.{{citation needed|date=November 2024}}

As part of a major fleet renewal program, Northwest introduced a simplified new paint scheme and logo in 2003. The airline replaced its [[McDonnell Douglas DC-10]] airliners with the [[Airbus A330]]. The first [[Airbus A330-300]], used initially for European flights, arrived on August 6, 2003. Northwest Airlines also possessed the youngest trans-Atlantic fleet of any North American or European airline.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.deltamuseum.org/exhibits/delta-history/aircraft-by-type/jet/Airbus-A330|title=Aircraft By Type|publisher=Delta Flight Museum|access-date=July 16, 2020|archive-date=July 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200716145538/https://www.deltamuseum.org/exhibits/delta-history/aircraft-by-type/jet/Airbus-A330|url-status=live}}</ref> Northwest Airlines also began flying reconfigured [[Boeing 757|Boeing 757-200]] airliners on some of its European flights carrying fewer passengers. Northwest was one of only two passenger airlines in the United States to fly the [[Boeing 747-400]], the other being [[United Airlines]].  A number of Boeing 747-400 aircraft formerly operated by Northwest were then also flown by Delta following the merger of the two air carriers including the first Boeing 747-400 ever built with this aircraft currently on public display at the [[Delta Flight Museum]] located at [[Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport]] (ATL).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.deltamuseum.org/exhibits/747-experience|title=747 Experience|access-date=March 22, 2021|archive-date=April 12, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210412033124/https://www.deltamuseum.org/exhibits/747-experience|url-status=live}}</ref>

Northwest was looking for manufacturers to discuss the replacement of their 100, 110 and 125 seat [[McDonnell Douglas DC-9]] ([[DC-9-10]], [[DC-9-30]] and [[DC-9-50]]) aircraft, with an average age of 35 years.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/27/business/27planes.html|title=U.S. Airlines Put Off Buying New Planes|first=Jeff|last=Bailey|newspaper=The New York Times|date=October 27, 2007|access-date=February 11, 2017|archive-date=January 17, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180117001727/http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/27/business/27planes.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.southernairways.org/assoc_press_old_dc9.htm |title=Using Old DC-9s Pays Off for Northwest |publisher=Southernairways.org |access-date=October 4, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005000114/http://www.southernairways.org/assoc_press_old_dc9.htm |archive-date=October 5, 2013  }}</ref>

==Cabin==
In March 1988, Northwest Airlines announced that it would ban smoking on all flights within North America, effective April 23, 1988, on the same day that a rule from the U.S. federal government prohibiting smoking on all domestic flights of a duration of two hours or fewer, would take into effect. Northwest was the first major U.S. airline to enact a smoking ban since the [[Muse Air]] had ended its four-year smoking ban in 1985.<ref>Kramon, Glenn. "Northwest Airlines Bans Smoking on Most Flights." ''[[The New York Times]]''. March 24, 1988. [https://www.nytimes.com/1988/03/24/us/northwest-airlines-bans-smoking-on-most-flights.html 1] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161229003749/http://www.nytimes.com/1988/03/24/us/northwest-airlines-bans-smoking-on-most-flights.html |date=December 29, 2016 }}. Retrieved on February 8, 2012.</ref>

===World Business Class===
World Business Class was Northwest Airlines' international [[business class]] product. It was offered on all widebody aircraft.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.northwestairlineshistory.org/ |title=Home |website=Northwest Airlines History Centre |access-date=December 12, 2020 |archive-date=November 1, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201101021350/http://northwestairlineshistory.org/ |url-status=live }} {{nonspecific|date=August 2022}}</ref> Seats had 60&nbsp;inches of pitch and 176 degrees of recline. Passengers aboard this class received free meals and refreshments, including alcoholic beverages. All seats were equipped with Audio-Video-On-Demand ([[AVOD]]), universal power ports, a moveable reading light, a folding work table, and a swivel cocktail table.

===Domestic First Class===
[[File:2008-0623-NWAdinner.jpg|thumb|Typical dinner served in Domestic First Class (2008)]]

First Class was offered on all narrowbody aircraft, as well as CRJ-900 Northwest Airlink flights operated by Mesaba Airlines and E175 flights operated by Compass Airlines. Seats ranged from 19.5 to 21.5&nbsp;inches wide, and had between 34 and 37&nbsp;inches of pitch. Passengers aboard this class received complimentary meals, refreshments, and alcoholic beverages.

===International Economy Class===
Economy Class was offered on all widebody aircraft. Seats ranged from 17 to 17.5&nbsp;inches wide, and had between 31 and 34&nbsp;inches of pitch. Passengers aboard this class received free meals, snacks, and non-alcoholic beverages. Beer and wine were complimentary on international flights with complimentary meals, other alcoholic beverages could be purchased for a fee.

Passengers aboard Airbus A330 aircraft also had an Audio-Video-On-Demand ([[AVOD]]) system located in the seatback in front of them, and passengers seated in rows 10–23 (A330-200) or rows 10–28 (A330-300) had a universal power-port located below their seat.

===Domestic Economy Class===
Economy Class was offered on all narrowbody aircraft. Seats ranged from 17 to 17.5&nbsp;inches wide and had between 30 and 34 inches of pitch, the same as on international economy class. Passengers aboard this class received free refreshments. In latter years in lieu of complimentary prepared meals, snack boxes, sandwiches (on select flights), and light snacks were available for purchase as part of a [[buy on board]] program.<ref>"[https://web.archive.org/web/20081026073227/http://www.nwa.com/services/onboard/special/meals.html In-Flight Meals]." ''Northwest Airlines''. Archived October 26, 2008.</ref> Alcoholic beverages were also sold.

Before 2008, Northwest Airlines was the only major U.S. airline (aside from low-cost, short-haul [[Southwest Airlines]], [[Allegiant Air]] and [[Spirit Airlines]]) to not offer any in-flight entertainment within North America (including Alaska). Although several of the airline's domestic aircraft were originally equipped with in-flight entertainment systems, these were removed in 2005 to cut costs. [[US Airways]] implemented a similar initiative in 2008. On flights between [[Honolulu International Airport]] and [[Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport]], passengers experienced the same cabin as International Economy Class aboard Airbus A330 aircraft.

==WorldPerks==<!--Linked from infobox-->
[[File:NWA WorldPerks logo.svg|right|class=mw-valign-text-top|x36px]] 
Northwest Airlines' [[frequent-flyer program]], ''WorldPerks'', offered regular travelers the ability to obtain free tickets, First Class upgrades on flights, discounted membership for its airport lounges ([[Northwest WorldClub|WorldClubs]]), or other types of rewards. Customers could accumulate miles from actual flight segments flown or through Northwest's partners, such as car rental companies, hotels, credit cards, and other vendors. WorldPerks' elite tiers were Silver Elite, Gold Elite, and Platinum Elite which allowed for more mileage bonuses, priority waitlists and standby, and other benefits. Over the years, some details of the program changed, such as introducing capacity-controlled awards (only a certain number of seats allocated for free travel), expiration of account after three years of inactivity, a requirement of a [[Saturday-night stay]] for domestic coach awards, waiving of capacity controls for awards but requiring double the number of miles for redemption, and adding several partner airlines for mileage accumulation and award redemption.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20090312063736/http://www.nwa.com/worldperks/program/overview/ Northwest Airlines WorldPerks Program Information] Archived March 12, 2009.</ref> The original name of the WorldPerks program was the Northwest Orient Airlines Free Flight Plan, which began in 1981.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.insideflyer.com/articles/o2_sidebar.php?key=4 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060525073303/http://www.insideflyer.com/articles/o2_sidebar.php?key=4 |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 25, 2006 |title=Northwest Orient Free Flight Plan |publisher=Insideflyer.com |access-date=October 4, 2013 }}</ref> The original program used paper coupons and gave credit for flight segments. Upon renaming the program to "WorldPerks" in 1986, a mileage-based system was used.

In addition to its [[Northwest Airlink]] and [[SkyTeam]] alliance partnerships, Northwest offered frequent flyer partnerships with the following airlines:<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20090317054826/http://www.nwa.com/worldperks/earn/airfl.shtml Northwest Airlines WorldPerks Airline Partnerships] Archived March 17, 2009.</ref>
{{col-begin-fixed}}
{{col-break}}
* [[Air Tahiti Nui]]
* [[Alaska Airlines]]
* [[American Eagle (airline brand)|American Eagle]] {{small|(California routes only)}}
* [[Cebu Pacific]] {{small|(temporarily suspended)}}
* [[China Airlines]]
* [[China Eastern Airlines]]
* [[Continental Airlines]]<br />{{small|(discontinued after Continental left SkyTeam on October 24, 2009)}}
* [[Garuda Indonesia]] <!--{{small|(temporarily suspended)}}-->
* [[Gulfstream International Airlines]]
* [[Hawaiian Airlines]]<br />{{small|(inter-island and international routes only)}}
{{col-break}}
* [[Horizon Air]]
* [[Japan Airlines]]
* [[Jet Airways]]
* [[Kingfisher Airlines]]
* [[Kenya Airways]]
* [[Malaysia Airlines]]
* [[Malév Hungarian Airlines]]
* [[Midwest Airlines]]
* [[Thai AirAsia]] {{small|(WorldPerks Asia only)}}
{{col-end}}
Northwest also offered frequent flyer partnerships with the following car rental agencies:<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20080416020648/http://www.nwa.com/worldperks/earn/partnercenter/carrental/ Northwest Airlines WorldPerks Car Rental Partnerships] Archived April 16, 2008.</ref>

* [[Alamo Rent A Car]]
* [[Avis Rent A Car]]
* [[Budget Rent A Car]]<ref>[http://www.nwa.com/corpinfo/newsc/2008/pr082220082207.html Northwest Airlines Partners With Budget Rent A Car] (Official Press Release: August 22, 2008)</ref>
* [[Dollar Rent A Car]]
* [[Hertz Rent A Car]]
* [[National Car Rental]]
* [[Thrifty Car Rental]]

==WorldClubs==<!--Linked from infobox-->
[[File:NWA WorldClubs logo.svg|right|class=mw-valign-text-top|x36px]]
''WorldClubs'' was Northwest's member lounge. Members had reciprocal access to a number of other clubs, including fellow [[SkyTeam]] carriers such as [[KLM]], [[Delta Air Lines]] and [[Air France]]. Northwest also had partnerships with various other airline lounges on an airport-by-airport basis. Unlike some other airline lounges, WorldClubs offered free alcoholic beverages in domestic locations and [[Tokyo-Narita]]. Northwest also offered free [[Wi-Fi]] internet access worldwide.

===Locations===
The following airports had Northwest Airlines WorldClub locations:
[[File:Nwaworldclub.jpg|thumb|Northwest WorldClub Chicago O’Hare International Airport Terminal 2]]

*[[Logan International Airport|Boston]]
*[[Chicago O'Hare]]
*Cleveland
*[[Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport|Detroit]] (4)
*[[Honolulu International Airport|Honolulu]]
*[[London Heathrow International Airport|London (Heathrow)]]<br /><small>([[SkyTeam]] Lounge)</small>
*[[Los Angeles International Airport|Los Angeles]]
*[[Ninoy Aquino International Airport|Manila]]
*[[Memphis International Airport|Memphis]]
*[[General Mitchell International Airport|Milwaukee]]
*[[Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport|Minneapolis-St. Paul]] (2)
*[[Newark International Airport|Newark]]
*[[LaGuardia Airport|New York (La Guardia)]]
*[[Portland International Airport|Portland, OR]]
*[[San Francisco International Airport|San Francisco]]
*[[Seattle/Tacoma]]
*[[Tokyo Narita International Airport|Tokyo (Narita)]] (2)
*[[Washington Dulles International Airport|Washington (Dulles)]]
*[[Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport|Washington (Reagan)]]

==Incidents and accidents==
===Fatal accidents===
The following are major incidents and accidents that occurred on Northwest's [[Mainline (aeronautics)|mainline]] aircraft.

{| class="sortable wikitable" border="1" cellpadding="3" style="border-collapse:collapse; margin: 1em auto;"
|+ '''Northwest Airlines Reported Incidents'''
|- 
!rowspan="2"|Flight
!rowspan="2"|Date
!rowspan="2"|Aircraft
!rowspan="2"|Location
!rowspan="2"|Description
!colspan="5"|Casualties
|- style="background:lightblue;"
!Fatal
!Serious
!Minor
!Uninjured
!Ground
|-
|[[Northwest Airlines Flight 2|2]]
|January 10, 1938
|[[Lockheed Model 14 Super Electra|Lockheed<br />Model 14]]
|[[Bozeman]], Montana
|Crashed in the [[Bridger Mountains (Montana)|Bridger Mountains]], {{convert|12|mi|abbr=on}} northeast of Bozeman, Montana. This was the airline's first fatal crash. Three other Lockheed Model 14 aircraft belonging to Northwest crashed over the next thirteen months.
|10
|
|
|
|
|-
|[[Northwest Airlines Flight 5 (1941)|5]]
|October 30, 1941
|[[Douglas DC-3]]
|[[Moorhead, Minnesota|Moorhead]], Minnesota
|The plane crashed in fog and mist due to icing on the wings. Fourteen of the fifteen passengers were killed in the crash. The pilot, Clarence Bates, was thrown clear of the wreckage and was the lone survivor.<ref>[http://www.planecrashinfo.com/w19411030.htm Northwest Orient Airlines crash October 30, 1941] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100205062601/http://planecrashinfo.com/w19411030.htm |date=February 5, 2010 }}, planecrashinfo</ref>
|14
|
|1
|
|
|-
|[[Northwest Airlines Flight 4422|4422]]
|March 12, 1948
|[[Douglas DC-4]]
|[[Mount Sanford (Alaska)|Mount Sanford]], Alaska
|Flight 4422 was a military charter en route back to the US from [[Shanghai, China]], and had just refueled at [[Merrill Field]], in [[Anchorage, Alaska]], before continuing on toward [[LaGuardia Airport]] where the flight was to be concluded. The aircraft veered 23 miles off course and struck a mountain during a snowstorm. The snowstorms quickly buried the aircraft in a mountain glacier.
|30
|
|
|
|
|-
|[[Northwest Airlines Flight 421|421]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19480829-0|title=ASN Aircraft accident Martin 2-0-2 NC93044 Winona, WI|publisher=Aviation-safety.net|access-date=March 5, 2010|archive-date=May 14, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110514081221/http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19480829-0|url-status=live}}</ref>
|August 29, 1948
|[[Martin 202]]
|[[Winona, Minnesota|Winona]], Minnesota
|Northwest 421 was flying a scheduled domestic route from Chicago-[[Minneapolis-St. Paul]] when it crashed about {{convert|4.1|mi|abbr=on}} NW of Winona, Minnesota, after entering the leading edge of a thunderstorm. Pieces of the plane were seen falling, and the plane was found on a bluff on the east side of the [[Mississippi River]]. The cause of the crash was the fatigue of the left-wing, causing it to separate from the plane and precipitating the plunge.
|37
|
|
|
|
|-
|6427<ref>{{cite web|url=http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19481027-0|title=ASN Aircraft accident Douglas C-54A-15-DC NC88785 Edmonton, AB|publisher=Aviation-safety.net|access-date=March 5, 2010|archive-date=May 11, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080511065806/http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19481027-0|url-status=live}}</ref>
|October 27, 1948
|[[Douglas DC-4]]
|[[Edmonton]], Alberta
|Flight 6427 was on a special cargo trip flying [[Minneapolis-St. Paul]]–[[Edmonton]]–[[Merrill Field|Anchorage (Merrill Field)]]–Tokyo when it crashed into a wooded area {{convert|34.4|mi|abbr=on}} N of Edmonton soon after takeoff. The investigation revealed that the captain had feathered the propellers in simulation to instruct the copilot on emergency procedures. This was determined to be the primary cause of the crash.
|2
|
|3
|
|
|-
|[[Northwest Orient Airlines Flight 307|307]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19500307-0|title=ASN Aircraft accident Martin 2-0-2 NC93050 Minneapolis, MN|publisher=Aviation-safety.net|access-date=March 5, 2010|archive-date=January 28, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120128182456/http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19500307-0|url-status=live}}</ref>
|March 7, 1950
|[[Martin 202]]
|[[Minneapolis]], Minnesota
|Flight 307 was operating a domestically scheduled passenger flight routing Washington, DC–[[Detroit]]–[[Madison, WI|Madison]]–[[Rochester, MN|Rochester]]–[[Minneapolis-St. Paul]]–[[Winnipeg]] crashed just before landing at Minneapolis, after deciding not to land at Rochester due to weather. The plane struck a flagpole at the National Soldiers Cemetery. The plane continued flying for another {{convert|3.8|mi|abbr=on}} when the left-wing separated and fell. The plane crashed into a house, and both were engulfed in flames. The cause of the crash was determined to be the loss of visual reference to the ground due to the snow falling at the time.
|13
|
|
|
|2
|-
|[[Northwest Orient Airlines Flight 2501|2501]]
|June 23, 1950
|[[Douglas DC-4]]
|[[Lake Michigan]]
|Northwest 2501 was lost over Lake Michigan during a flight from [[New York, NY|New York's]] [[LaGuardia Airport]] to [[Seattle-Tacoma International Airport|Seattle, WA]]. The aircraft went off radar and a widespread search was conducted. Some debris, upholstery, and human remains were found floating on the surface, but divers were unable to locate the plane's wreckage.
|58
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|
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|
|-
|N/A<ref>{{cite web|url=http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19501013-0|title=ASN Aircraft accident Martin 2-0-2 NC93037 Almelund, MN|publisher=Aviation-safety.net|access-date=March 5, 2010|archive-date=October 24, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024003851/http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19501013-0|url-status=live}}</ref>
|October 13, 1950
|[[Martin 202]]
|[[Almelund, Minnesota|Almelund]], Minnesota
|This flight was intended to be a training flight originating and ending at [[Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport|Minneapolis-St. Paul]]. The reversal of the right propeller during the flight caused the plane to spin out of control and crash, killing all on board.
|6
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|
|
|
|-
|115<ref>{{cite web|url=http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19501107-0|title=ASN Aircraft accident Martin 2-0-2 N93040 Butte, MT|publisher=Aviation-safety.net|access-date=March 5, 2010|archive-date=October 24, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024003922/http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19501107-0|url-status=live}}</ref>
|November 7, 1950
|[[Martin 202]]
|[[Butte, Montana|Butte]], Montana
|Flight 115 was flying a scheduled route of Chicago–[[Minneapolis/St. Paul]]–[[Billings]]–[[Great Falls, Montana|Great Falls]]–[[Helena, MT|Helena]]–[[Butte, MT|Butte]]–[[Seattle]] when it crashed {{convert|3.1|mi|abbr=on}} E of Butte while landing. The plane crashed into the eastern slope of a ridge. The cause of the crash was improperly followed approach procedures.
|21
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|
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|-
|115<ref>{{cite web|url=http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19510116-0|title=ASN Aircraft accident Martin 2-0-2 N93054 Reardan, WA|publisher=Aviation-safety.net|access-date=March 5, 2010|archive-date=June 25, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110625014421/http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19510116-0|url-status=live}}</ref>
|January 16, 1951
|[[Martin 202]]
|[[Reardan]], [[Washington (state)|Washington]]
|Flight 115 (which was the same designation as the previous accident) was on the scheduled route of [[Minneapolis-St. Paul]]–[[Billings]]–[[Kalispell]]–[[Spokane]]–[[Wenatchee]]–[[Yakima]]–[[Seattle]] when it crashed about {{convert|11.9|mi|abbr=on}} W of Reardan after the captain decided not to land at Wenatchee but proceed to Yakima due to weather. An emergency message from the plane was heard briefly 15 seconds after the clearance was given. The cause of the crash is not known.
|10
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|-
|324<ref>{{cite web|url=http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19520119-0|title=ASN Aircraft accident Douglas C-54E-5-DO N45342 Sandspit Airport, BC (YZP)|publisher=Aviation-safety.net|access-date=March 5, 2010|archive-date=May 14, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110514100421/http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19520119-0|url-status=live}}</ref>
|January 19, 1952
|[[Douglas C-54]]
|[[Sandspit, British Columbia|Sandspit]], British Columbia
|Flight 324 was flying a nonscheduled flight originating in Tokyo, ending at [[McChord Air Force Base]] with intermediate stops in [[Shemya]] and [[Anchorage]] ([[Elmendorf Air Force Base]]). While opposite [[Sitka, Alaska]], the No. 1 propeller was feathered by the captain, who requested a diversion to Sandspit. As the plane was landing, it touched down about a third of the way down the runway; at around the midpoint, power was applied and the plane took off, but it stalled due to the steep climb and plunged into the water at the end of the runway. The cause of the crash was the icing that prevented the pilot from retracting the nose gear.
|36
|7
|
|
|
|-
|[[Northwest Orient Airlines Flight 2|2]]
|April 2, 1956
|[[Boeing Stratocruiser]]
|[[Puget Sound]], Washington
|Flight 2 crashed after takeoff from [[Seattle-Tacoma International Airport]] on a flight to [[Portland, Oregon]], Chicago and New York City. The pilots ditched the aircraft into Puget Sound, {{convert|5.4|mi|abbr=on}} off Seattle.
|5
|
|2
|31
|
|-
|[[Northwest Orient Airlines Flight 710|710]]
|March 17, 1960
|[[Lockheed L-188 Electra]]
|[[Cannelton, Indiana|Cannelton]], Indiana
|Flight 710 was en route to [[Miami]] from Chicago when the aircraft lost a wing at approximately 18,000 feet near [[Tell City, Indiana]].
|63
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|
|
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|-
|1–11<ref>{{cite web|url=http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19600714-0|title=ASN Aircraft accident Douglas DC-7C N292 Polillo Island|publisher=Aviation-safety.net|access-date=March 5, 2010|archive-date=May 11, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080511154930/http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19600714-0|url-status=live}}</ref>
|July 14, 1960
|[[Douglas DC-7]]
|Pacific Ocean near [[Manila]], Philippines
|Northwest 1–11 was flying from New York City to Manila, Philippines, with stops in [[Seattle]], [[Anchorage]] ([[Cold Bay Airport|Cold Bay]]), Tokyo, and [[Okinawa Prefecture|Okinawa]]. The plane was on its final leg between Okinawa and Manila when the No. 2 engine experienced power loss. The propeller then separated from the plane and hit the fuselage, slashing a 15-inch hole. The pilot decided to ditch the plane in the Pacific Ocean about {{convert|77.5|mi|abbr=on}} NE of Manila. Upon impact, the rear of the plane separated as well as the engines and right-wing. The majority of the survivors used the right-wing, which floated for three hours, as a life raft until rescue came.
|1
|
|58
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|
|-
|{{vanchor|104}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19601028-0|title=ASN Aircraft accident Douglas C-54A-10-DC N48762 Missoula, MT|publisher=Aviation-safety.net|access-date=March 5, 2010|archive-date=May 11, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080511065014/http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19601028-0|url-status=live}}</ref>
|October 28, 1960
|[[Douglas C-54]]
|[[Missoula]], Montana
|Flight 104 was flying from Spokane to Missoula when it crashed about 20 miles ({{Nowrap|30 km}}) W of Missoula in the [[Clark Fork (river)|Clark Fork Valley]]. The plane was seen making a steep left banking turn with nose up; the plane continued rolling and crashed inverted. The crash was attributed to pilot error.
|12
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|
|
|
|-
|[[Northwest Orient Airlines Flight 706|706]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19610916-1 |title=ASN Aircraft accident |publisher=Aviation-safety.net |access-date=March 5, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080508022820/http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19610916-1 |archive-date=May 8, 2008 }}</ref>
|September 16, 1961
|[[Lockheed L-188 Electra]]
|[[Chicago]], Illinois
|Flight 706 was on a routine flight from [[Milwaukee]] to [[Miami]], with stops in Chicago, [[Tampa]], and [[Ft. Lauderdale]]. While departing from Chicago, the plane banked to the right and gradually descended until hitting the ground. The cause of the crash was mechanical failure of the ailerons.
|37
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|
|
|
|-
|[[Northwest Orient Airlines Flight 705|705]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19630212-0|title=ASN Aircraft accident Boeing 720-051B N724US Everglades, Florida|publisher=Aviation-safety.net|access-date=March 5, 2010|archive-date=May 2, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120502142521/http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19630212-0|url-status=live}}</ref>{{anchor|Flight 705}}
|February 12, 1963
|[[Boeing 720]]
|[[Florida Everglades]]
|Flight 705, flying from [[Miami]] to Chicago crashed in the Florida Everglades approximately 37 miles ({{Nowrap|60 km}}) SW of [[Miami International Airport]] while diverting to avoid bad weather. The cause of the crash was an unrecoverable loss of control due to severe turbulence.
|43
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|
|
|
|-
|[[Northwest Airlines Flight 293|293]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19630603-1|title=ASN Aircraft accident Douglas DC-7CF N290 Annette Island, AK, USA|publisher=Aviation-safety.net|access-date=March 5, 2010|archive-date=April 25, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425023649/http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19630603-1|url-status=live}}</ref>
|June 3, 1963
|[[Douglas DC-7]]
|Pacific Ocean<br />near [[Annette Island, Alaska]]
|Flight 293 was flying a [[Military Air Transport Service]] (MATS) flight from [[McChord Air Force Base]] outside [[Tacoma, Washington]], to [[Elmendorf Air Force Base]] outside [[Anchorage, Alaska]]. While in flight, contact was lost. Floating debris from the plane was located {{convert|182.5|mi|abbr=on}} WSW of Annette Island. The cause of the crash was never determined.
|101
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|
|
|
|-
|[[Northwest Airlines Flight 6231|6231]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19741201-1|title=ASN Aircraft accident Boeing 727-251 N274US Stony Point, New York|publisher=Aviation-safety.net|access-date=March 5, 2010|archive-date=June 16, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090616111127/http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19741201-1|url-status=live}}</ref>
|December 1, 1974
|[[Boeing 727]]
|[[Stony Point, New York|Stony Point]], New York
|Flight 6231 was flying on a ferry flight from [[John F. Kennedy International Airport]] to [[Buffalo, New York|Buffalo]] when it crashed in the vicinity of Stony Point. As the plane was cleared to climb, the airspeed and rate of climb increased, until the plane stalled and descended out of control into a wooded area. The cause of the crash was loss of control because "the flight crew failed to realize and correct the aircraft's high-angle-of-attack, low-speed stall and descending spiral".
|3
|
|
|
|
|-
|Northwest Airlines Flight 608|608<ref>{{ASN accident|id=19830120-0|type=Hijacking}}</ref>
|January 20, 1983
|[[Boeing 727]]
|[[Portland International Airport|Portland, Oregon]]
|Flight 608 was en route from [[Seattle–Tacoma International Airport|Seattle, Washington]], to [[Portland, Oregon]], when it was hijacked. The man informed a flight attendant that he had a bomb and demanded to be taken to [[Afghanistan]]. Landing in Portland to refuel, the hijacker negotiated with airport authorities. Federal agents stormed the aircraft. The hijacker threw the box he claimed had a bomb at the agents, who shot and killed him. The box contained no explosives.
|1
|
|
|40
|
|-
|[[Northwest Airlines Flight 255|255]]
|August 16, 1987
|[[McDonnell Douglas MD-80|McDonnell-Douglas MD-82]]
|[[Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport|Romulus, Michigan]]
|Flight 255 crashed on takeoff from [[Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport]]. All but one aboard the MD-82 died. The cause of the crash was attempted takeoff with the wrong configuration due to pilot mismanagement of the aircraft.
|154
|1
|
|
|2
|-
|[[Northwest Airlines Flight 1482|1482]]<ref name="ntsb.gov">{{cite web|url=https://www.ntsb.gov/aviationquery/brief.aspx?ev_id=20001212X24751&key=2|title=DCA91MA010A|publisher=Ntsb.gov|access-date=August 17, 2012|archive-date=October 18, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121018210939/http://www.ntsb.gov/aviationquery/brief.aspx?ev_id=20001212X24751&key=2|url-status=live}}</ref>
|December 3, 1990
|[[Douglas DC-9]]
|[[Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport|Romulus, Michigan]]
|Flight 1482, a DC-9-14 departing for [[Pittsburgh]] collided with Flight 299, a Boeing 727-200, departing for [[Memphis, Tennessee|Memphis]] at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport near the intersection of runways 09/27 and 03C/21C in dense fog. The 727 had begun its takeoff roll, and the DC-9 had just taxied onto the active runway. None of the 146 passengers and 10 crew members aboard the 727 were injured, but the DC-9 sustained serious damage.
|8
|10
|26
|
|
|-
|[[Northwest Airlines Flight 1482|299]]<ref name="ntsb.gov"/>
|December 3, 1990
|[[Boeing 727]]
|[[Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport|Romulus, Michigan]]
|Involved in collision with Flight 1482 detailed in the previous line.
|
|
|
|156
|
|- style="background:lightblue;"
!colspan="3"|'''Total casualties'''
|
|
|Fatal
|Serious
|Minor
|Uninjured
|Ground
|- style="background:lightblue;"
!colspan="3"|(20 incidents)
|
|
|620
|18
|89
|187
|4
|}

===Non-fatal accidents and incidents===
* {{Timeline-event|date={{Start date|1962|10|22}}|event=A DC-7 with 7 crew and 95 passengers<ref>{{cite book|title=Aircraft Accident Report: Douglas DC-7C, N285 Northwest Airlines, Inc. Ditching in Sitka Sound, Alaska October 22, 1962|date=September 19, 1963|publisher=Civil Aeronautics Board|location=Washington, DC|page=1}}</ref> made a successful water landing in [[Sitka Sound]]. The military charter flight was en route to [[Elmendorf Air Force Base]] from [[McChord Air Force Base]] and, prior to the ditching at just before 1 p.m. local time, the crew had been struggling with a propeller problem for about 45 minutes.<ref>{{cite news|title=DC-7 Ditches In Sea Near Sitka; All Safe|work=The Seattle Daily Times|date=October 22, 1962}}</ref> The plane stayed afloat for 24 minutes after coming to rest in the water, giving the occupants ample time to evacuate into life-rafts. Only 6 minor injuries were reported; all passengers and crew were quickly rescued by U.S. Coast Guard ships.<ref name="102 Saved As Plane Ditches">{{cite news|last1=Sims|first1=Ward T.|title=102 Saved As Plane Ditches|work=Seattle Post Intelligencer|date=October 23, 1962}}</ref> The accident report called the ditching "an outstanding feat," citing several key factors in this water landing's success: pilots' skill, ideal conditions (calm seas, favorable weather, daylight), time to prepare for the ditching and the military passengers' ease with following orders.}}<ref>{{cite book|title=Aircraft Accident Report: Douglas DC-7C, N285 Northwest Airlines, Inc. Ditching in Sitka Sound, Alaska October 22, 1962|date=September 19, 1963|publisher=Civil Aeronautics Board|location=Washington, DC|page=5}}</ref> Pilots who flew over the scene also praised the Northwest crew, calling it the "...finest ditching they had ever seen..." .<ref name="102 Saved As Plane Ditches"/>
*{{Timeline-event|date={{Start date|1968|07|01}}|event=[[Northwest Airlines Flight 714]] was hijacked to Cuba.}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19680701-2|title=Hijacking|publisher=Aviation-safety.net|access-date=March 5, 2010|archive-date=November 12, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121112125250/http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19680701-2|url-status=live}}</ref>
*{{Timeline-event|date={{Start date|1971|01|22}}|event=[[Northwest Airlines Flight 433]] was hijacked en route from [[General Mitchell International Airport|Milwaukee]] to [[Detroit, Michigan]]. The hijacker demanded to be taken to [[Algeria]] but the plane landed in Cuba instead.}}<ref>{{ASN accident|id=19710122-3|type=Hijacking}}</ref>
* {{Timeline-event|date={{Start date|1971|11|24}}|event= Northwest Airlines Flight 305, en route from [[Portland International Airport]] to [[Seattle–Tacoma International Airport]], was hijacked by [[D. B. Cooper]]. After receiving a $200,000 ransom payment and four parachutes in Seattle, he ordered the crew to fly to Mexico, and he jumped from the aft [[airstair]]s of the [[Boeing 727|Boeing 727-051]] while it was in flight over [[Washington (state)|Washington]]. The aircraft later landed safely in [[Reno/Tahoe International Airport|Reno, Nevada]], but Cooper's fate remains unknown.}}
*{{Timeline-event|date={{Start date|1977|05|08}}|event=Northwest Orient Airlines Flight 22, a Boeing 747 en route from Tokyo to Honolulu, was hijacked by a passenger who held a razor to a flight attendant's throat and demanded to be flown to Moscow. The flight's [[purser]] subdued the hijacker with a fire ax. The flight returned to Tokyo so the hijacker's injuries could be treated; no other injuries were reported.<ref>{{cite news|author=<!--not stated-->|title=Purser Subdues Hijacker On Tokyo-Hawaii Flight|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1977/05/09/archives/purser-subdues-hijacker-on-tokyohawaii-flight.html|agency=Associated Press|work=The New York Times|date=May 9, 1977|location=New York City|url-access=limited|access-date=September 9, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Timeline - 1970s - Northwest Airlines |url=https://northwestairlineshistory.org/timeline-1970s/ |website=northwestairlineshistory.org |date=March 2020 |publisher=Northwest Airlines History Center |access-date=September 9, 2024}}</ref>}}
*{{Timeline-event|date={{Start date|1990|01|04}}|event= The right-hand engine fell off of Northwest Airlines Flight 5, {{Nowrap|Boeing 727}} registration N2280, en route from Miami to Minneapolis with 145 passengers and crew.<ref name=N2280/><ref>{{cite news|first=Eric|last=Weiner|title=Jet Lands After an Engine Drops Off|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/01/05/us/jet-lands-after-an-engine-drops-off.html|work=The New York Times|date=January 5, 1990|location=New York City|url-access=limited|access-date=September 9, 2024|archive-date=May 4, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100504160815/http://www.nytimes.com/1990/01/05/us/jet-lands-after-an-engine-drops-off.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The pilots heard a loud bang; noticing that the aircraft had lost power but not realizing why, they made a safe emergency landing in Tampa, at which point they discovered that the engine was missing. It was found the next day in a field near [[Madison, Florida]].<ref>{{cite news|first=Eric|last=Weiner|title=Pilots Had No Way of Knowing Jet Engine Fell Off, Experts Say|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/01/06/us/pilots-had-no-way-of-knowing-jet-engine-fell-off-experts-say.html|work=The New York Times|date=January 6, 1990|location=New York City|url-access=limited|access-date=September 9, 2024|archive-date=March 21, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140321154042/http://www.nytimes.com/1990/01/06/us/pilots-had-no-way-of-knowing-jet-engine-fell-off-experts-say.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The accident was attributed to lavatory seals in the forward fuselage that had been improperly installed by airline technicians; when the cabin was [[cabin pressurization|pressurized]], lavatory fluid was forced through the seals and ingested by the engine, damaging the compressor blades.<ref name=N2280>{{cite report|url=https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/32577/pdf |title=Aviation Investigation Final Report|docket=MIA90IA047|date=December 30, 1992|access-date=September 9, 2024|publisher=National Transportation Safety Board}}</ref>}}
*{{Timeline-event|date={{Start date|1990|03|08}}|event= A Northwest Airlines Boeing 727 carrying 91 passengers flew from [[Fargo, North Dakota]], to Minneapolis with both pilots and the [[flight engineer]] drunk. All three men were subsequently fired and had their licenses revoked by the FAA.<ref>{{cite news|first=John|last=Cushman|title=3 Pilots Dismissed in Alcohol Abuse|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/03/17/us/3-pilots-dismissed-in-alcohol-abuse.html|work=The New York Times|date=March 17, 1990|access-date=September 9, 2024|archive-date=December 6, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101206134827/http://nytimes.com/1990/03/17/us/3-pilots-dismissed-in-alcohol-abuse.html|url-status=live}}</ref> }}
*{{Timeline-event|date={{Start date|1999|01|02}}|event= (-Jan 3) due to bad weather and blizzards passengers were stranded on aircraft at Detroit for periods up to 8½ hours. An official inquiry found "... [the delays] were serious and indicate that this event had important implications for passenger safety. Moreover, even if the well being of passengers had not been an issue, the review team believes that the stranding of passengers on aircraft queued on taxiways for up to 8½ hours invites more serious problems and is simply unacceptable. None of the other airlines serving Detroit experienced ground delays approaching the magnitude of Northwest's delays."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dot.gov/affairs/1999/detsnowintro.htm |title=Report on the January 1999 Detroit Snowstorm |date=June 1999 |publisher=U.S. Department of Transportation |access-date=June 2, 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091022103900/http://www.dot.gov/affairs/1999/detsnowintro.htm | archive-date=October 22, 2009}}</ref> Subsequently, passengers brought various legal claims against the carrier including false imprisonment and negligence and obtained a $7.1&nbsp;million settlement.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.aasfe.org/susan-carey-2.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100402172746/http://www.aasfe.org/susan-carey-2.html|url-status=dead|title=Tension on a crowded plane nears the breaking point as it festers, snowbound, Wall Street Journal|archive-date=April 2, 2010}}</ref> }}
*{{Timeline-event|date={{Start date|2001|03|17}}|event=Northwest Airlines Flight 985, an Airbus A320 registered N357NW with 144 passengers and 6 crew, was taking off from runway 3C at [[Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport]] when the nose lifted off the runway prematurely without control input from the pilots. The captain applied forward [[control stick]] to push the nose back down, but it lifted off again when he released stick pressure. Fearing that the plane might be uncontrollable in flight, the captain initiated a [[rejected takeoff]], but the plane briefly became airborne, sustained a [[hard landing]] and a [[tailstrike]], and overran the runway, coming to rest in a muddy field {{cvt|400|ft}} past the threshold. Three passengers reported minor injuries from the accident and ensuing emergency evacuation. The accident was attributed to [[pilot-induced oscillation]]s during the takeoff and the delay in aborting the takeoff; contributing factors were incorrect [[trim tab]] settings by the [[first officer (aviation)|first officer]], which the captain failed to notice during preflight checks, and a wet runway.<ref>{{cite report|url=https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/51932/pdf |title=Aviation Investigation Final Report|docket=CHI01FA104|date=November 25, 2003|access-date=September 10, 2024|publisher=National Transportation Safety Board}}</ref>}}
*{{Timeline-event|date={{Start date|2002|10|09}}|event= [[Northwest Airlines Flight 85]], a Boeing 747-400, experienced a lower rudder hardover during cruise. The crew declared an emergency and diverted the airplane to [[Ted Stevens International Airport]] in Anchorage, Alaska.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fss.aero/accident-reports/look.php?report_key=1012 |title=Rudder hardover, Boeing 747-400 |date=October 9, 2002 |publisher=fss.aero Flight Simulation Systems |access-date=June 2, 2012 |archive-date=April 26, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120426072614/http://www.fss.aero/accident-reports/look.php?report_key=1012 |url-status=live }}</ref> }}
*{{Timeline-event|date={{Start date|2004|06|19}}|event= pilots mistakenly landed at [[Ellsworth AFB]] instead of the nearby [[Rapid City]] airport. Passengers aboard were asked to close their window shades by [[US Air Force]] security personnel.<ref>{{cite news|first=Bill |last=Harlan |title=Landing incident prompts investigations |url=http://www.rapidcityjournal.com/articles/2004/06/21/news/local/top/news01.txt |work=Rapid City Journal |date=June 21, 2004 |access-date=April 6, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041010201508/http://www.rapidcityjournal.com/articles/2004/06/21/news/local/top/news01.txt |archive-date=October 10, 2004 }}</ref> }}
*{{Timeline-event|date={{Start date|2005|05|10}}|event= a Northwest Airlines DC-9 collided on the ground with a Northwest Airlines Airbus A319 that had just pushed back from the gate at [[Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport]]. The DC-9 suffered a malfunction in one of its hydraulic systems in flight. After landing, the captain shut down one of the plane's engines, inadvertently disabling the remaining working hydraulic system. Six people were injured and both planes were substantially damaged.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.twincities.com/business/ci_5804561?nclick_check=1 |title=NTSB: Pilot caused airport collision |publisher=Twincities.com |date=March 5, 2007 |access-date=April 5, 2015 |archive-date=April 13, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150413004940/http://www.twincities.com/business/ci_5804561?nclick_check=1 |url-status=live }}</ref> The Airbus A319 was later repaired and is currently in service with [[Delta Air Lines]] as of December 2022. The DC-9, however, was written off.}}
*{{Timeline-event|date={{Start date|2005|06|19}}|event= at 0435 in the morning Tehran local time, Northwest Airlines Flight 41, Ship No. 1243, operating from [[Mumbai]] to [[Amsterdam]] made an emergency landing at the [[Mehrabad International Airport]] in [[Tehran]], Iran. It was the first American air carrier to land in Iran in 26 years, since the [[Iranian Revolution]] in 1979.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.flightpodcast.com/episode-4-bo-corby-nwa-flight-41-into-tehran |title=Audio interview with Bo Corby, Captain of NWA Flight 41 |publisher=Flightpodcast.com |access-date=October 4, 2013 |archive-date=October 4, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004225706/http://www.flightpodcast.com/episode-4-bo-corby-nwa-flight-41-into-tehran |url-status=live }}</ref> }}
*{{Timeline-event|date={{Start date|2005|08|19}}|event= a Northwest Airlines 747-200, registration N627US, operating flight NW74 from [[Tokyo Narita Airport]] landed at [[Guam International Airport]] without its nose gear fully extended. The nose of aircraft made full contact with the runway. Smoke was reported on board and all passengers and crew were evacuated, with only two minor injuries reported.<ref>[http://www.airliners.net/photo/Northwest-Airlines/Boeing-747-251B/0928640/&sid=cdf3e3e7013ad86b540aee761142798e Photos: Boeing 747-251B Aircraft Pictures] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107123127/http://www.airliners.net/photo/Northwest-Airlines/Boeing-747-251B/0928640/%26sid%3Dcdf3e3e7013ad86b540aee761142798e |date=November 7, 2012 }}. Airliners.net. Retrieved on February 14, 2011.</ref><ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezYMGM_VtFI 胴体着陸 BELLY LANDING 緊急脱出 emergency exit] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160418074104/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezYMGM_VtFI |date=April 18, 2016 }}. YouTube. Retrieved on February 14, 2011.</ref> }}
* On January 21, 2007, {{anchor|Northwest Airlines Flight 1726}} a Northwest Airlines [[DC-9]], Northwest Airlines Flight 1726 skidded {{convert|400|ft|m}} off the end of a snowy [[runway]] at Milwaukee International Airport. The accident was due to an explosion in one of the engines, forcing the pilot to abort takeoff. The aircraft was headed for [[Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport]] and was to continue on to [[Buffalo Niagara International Airport]]. Amongst the 104 people aboard, only one back injury was reported.<ref name="JS">{{cite news|title=Scared to Death|first1=Mark|last1=Johnson|first2=Meg|last2=Kissinger|url=http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=555249|newspaper=[[Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel]]|date=January 22, 2007|access-date=September 28, 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070210030626/http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=555249|archive-date=February 10, 2007}}</ref><ref name="Sandler">{{cite news|title=Safety Won't Come Easy – 3 Mitchell Runways Don't Meet Federal Standards, but Compliance by 2015 Means Navigating Multiple Obstacles|first=Larry|last=Sandler|url=http://www.hallassoc.net/news_milwaukee%20journal.htm|newspaper=[[Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel]]|date=January 22, 2007|access-date=September 28, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090105174020/http://www.hallassoc.net/news_milwaukee%20journal.htm|archive-date=January 5, 2009|url-status=dead}} (republished by Hall & Associates)</ref>
*{{Timeline-event|date={{Start date|2007|10|20}}|event= Northwest Airlines Flight 1432 executed an emergency landing at [[Hector International Airport]] in Fargo, North Dakota because the nose wheels had jammed in an abnormal position. There were no injuries on board.<ref>{{cite news|author=Dsavit|title=Landing photo of Flight 1432|url=http://www.myaviation.net/search/photo_search.php?id=01199747&size=large|access-date=July 21, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120323055124/http://www.myaviation.net/search/photo_search.php?id=01199747&size=large|archive-date=March 23, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> }}
*{{Timeline-event|date={{Start date|2009|02|20}}|event= Northwest Airlines Flight 2, a Boeing 747-400 flying from [[Ninoy Aquino International Airport]] in [[Manila]], Philippines, to [[Narita International Airport]] near Tokyo, Japan, experienced severe turbulence when descending to Narita. The aircraft, with 408 passengers and 14 crew members aboard, landed safely; however, 50 people were injured; around five were hospitalized.<ref>{{cite news|title=50 hurt in turbulence on Japan-bound flight|first=Shino|last=Yuasa|url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/travel/2008765076_apasjapanturbulence.html|date=February 20, 2009|work=Seattle Times|agency=AP|access-date=August 17, 2012|archive-date=May 1, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090501073328/http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/travel/2008765076_apasjapanturbulence.html|url-status=live}}</ref> }}
*{{Timeline-event|date={{Start date|2009|05|04}}|event= An Airbus A320-211, registration N311US, operated by Northwest Airlines as flight NW557, experienced a tailstrike resulting in substantial damage upon landing on runway 16L at Denver International Airport, Colorado (DEN). The flight was a regularly scheduled passenger flight which departed from Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport, Minnesota (MSP) at 11:39.<ref>[http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20090504-0 ASN Aircraft accident Airbus A320-211 N311US Denver International Airport, CO (DEN)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303165430/http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20090504-0 |date=March 3, 2016 }}. Aviation-safety.net. Retrieved on February 14, 2011.</ref> }}
*{{Timeline-event|date={{Start date|2009|10|21}}|event= [[Northwest Airlines Flight 188]], an [[Airbus A320]], flying from [[San Diego International Airport]] to [[Minneapolis-St Paul International Airport]] overflew the Minneapolis airport and continued to fly off course by 150 miles, leaving [[air traffic control]] to believe that the flight had been hijacked.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://wcco.com/travel/flight.overshoots.airport.2.1265004.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091025063151/http://wcco.com/travel/flight.overshoots.airport.2.1265004.html|url-status=dead|title=NWA188 overshoots MSP by 150 miles – WCCO|archive-date=October 25, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2009/TRAVEL/10/23/airliner.fly.by/index.html |title=ATC fears NWA188 hijacked – CNN |publisher=CNN |access-date=October 4, 2013 |archive-date=October 5, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005023342/http://edition.cnn.com/2009/TRAVEL/10/23/airliner.fly.by/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The pilots originally stated that they were in an argument regarding airline policy and did not notice that they had flown off course,<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20091206072249/https://www.ntsb.gov/pressrel/2009/091022.html Pilots in heated argument causing 150 mile off course – NTSB Advisory] Archived December 6, 2009.</ref> but later admitted to using their personal laptop computers at the time.<ref>{{cite news|first=Micheline|last=Maynard|title=Off-Course Pilots Cite Computer Distraction|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/27/us/27plane.html?scp=5&sq=northwest%20airlines%20san%20diego&st=cse|work=The New York Times|date=October 26, 2009|access-date=February 9, 2010|archive-date=December 28, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161228234810/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/27/us/27plane.html?scp=5&sq=northwest%20airlines%20san%20diego&st=cse|url-status=live}}</ref> The pilots contacted air traffic control after they realized their mistake and the flight arrived safely in Minneapolis about one hour late. The pilots' commercial flying licenses were subsequently revoked by the FAA.<ref>{{cite news|first=Matthew|last=Wald|title=F.A.A. Revokes Licenses of Pilots Who Missed Airport|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/28/us/28plane.html?_r=1&scp=8&sq=northwest%20airlines%20san%20diego&st=cse|work=The New York Times|date=October 27, 2009|access-date=February 9, 2010|archive-date=October 5, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005021818/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/28/us/28plane.html?_r=1&scp=8&sq=northwest%20airlines%20san%20diego&st=cse|url-status=live}}</ref> }}
*{{Timeline-event|date={{Start date|2009|12|25}}|event= a [[Nigeria]]n [[al Qaeda]] member [[Northwest Airlines Flight 253|tried to detonate plastic explosives]] on Northwest Airlines Flight 253, an [[Airbus A330]] from [[Amsterdam Airport Schiphol|Amsterdam]] to [[Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport|Detroit]], as the plane was landing in Detroit. The device failed to detonate properly, and the suspect suffered third degree burns. Two other passengers incurred minor injuries. The White House said it considered it an attempted terrorist attack.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna34592031 |title=Officials: Possible terror attack on Northwest jet |publisher=NBC News |date=December 28, 2009 |access-date=October 4, 2013 |archive-date=September 23, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200923230804/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/34592031 |url-status=live }}</ref> }}

== See also ==
* [[List of defunct airlines of the United States]]
* [[Professional Flight Attendants Association]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Bibliography==
* Roach, J and Eastwood A.B., ''Jet Airliner Production List - Volume 1 - Boeing''. 2003. The Aviation Hobby Shop. {{ISBN|0-907178-97-9}}.
*{{cite magazine|last=Taylor|first=H. A. "Tony"|title=Stratocruiser... Ending an Airline Era |magazine=[[Air Enthusiast]] |date=April–July 1982|issue=18 |pages=37–53 |issn=0143-5450}}

==Further reading==
* El-Hai, Jack. (2013) ''Non-stop: A Turbulent History of Northwest Airlines'' (University of Minnesota Press, 2013) 291 pp. Heavily illustrated.
*Ruble, Kenneth D.; (1986). ''Flight to the Top: How a Hometown Airline Made History—and Keeps on Making It: The Absorbing Sixty-year Story of Northwest Airlines.'' New York: Viking Press.
*"Pilots Who Flew Drunk are Sentenced to Prison". (October 27, 1990). ''St. Louis Post-Dispatch'', p.&nbsp;7A. Retrieved March 21, 2005, from LexisNexis.
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20071016140424/http://freep.com/money/business/nwa17e_20050317.htm Moylan, Martin J. "NWA to trim mechanics jobs". (March 17, 2005). ''Detroit Free Press''].
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070218073459/http://www.nwa.com/corpinfo/upclose/ Northwest Airlines history timeline on www.nwa.com]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20080120162651/http://www.usps.com/history/his2_5.htm U.S. Postal Service history; airmail service starts]
*"[http://dmses.dot.gov/docimages/pdf95/385506_web.pdf Order 2006-2-1]{{dead link|date=July 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}", Joint Application of Alitalia-Linee Aeree Italiane-S.p.A., Czech Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Inc., KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Northwest Airlines, Inc. and Societe Air France for Approval of and Antitrust Immunity for Alliance Agreements, [[United States Department of Transportation]], February 6, 2006.
*Extensive archival records of [http://www.mnhs.org/library/findaids/00110.xml Northwest Airlines] are available for research use at the [http://www.mnhs.org/ Minnesota Historical Society.]

==External links==
{{Commons category|Northwest Airlines}}
* [https://web.archive.org/*/http://www.nwa.com Northwest Airlines] (Archive)
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080607123524/http://digitalnwaworldtraveler.com/ WorldTraveler inflight magazine]
* [https://digitalcollections.museumofflight.org/nodes/view/27577?type=all Northwest Airlines | Museum of Flight Digital Collections]
* [https://digitalcollections.museumofflight.org/nodes/view/27575?type=all Northwest Orient Airlines | Museum of Flight Digital Collections]

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