Schwanker
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NWA obtains commuter OK
Compass to fly from Dulles near D.C.
September 12, 2006
FREE PRESS BUSINESS WRITER
Northwest Airlines Inc. came a step closer Monday to starting its new commuter carrier, a key part of its restructuring plan.
The U.S. Department of Transportation said it plans to let the Northwest subsidiary, Compass Airlines, start flying out of Dulles International Airport in Virginia in October.
The department opened a 14-day window to hear objections.
Northwest, which has been reorganizing under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection for nearly a year, plans to use the subsidiary to fly passengers to its hubs -- Detroit; Minneapolis and Memphis, Tenn. -- and a network of small and midsize cities.
Compass would use Federal Aviation Administration certification that Northwest bought for $2 million from Independence Air, which closed its Dulles-based operation in January.
"The DOT action is another key milestone in the certification process of Compass Airlines," Northwest said.
In documents filed Monday, the Department of Transportation said Northwest plans to start flights between Dulles and Minneapolis using a 50-seat jet in October, a launch date that has been pushed back twice.
Northwest had applied for permission to start Compass operations at the end of March.
By March next year, the airline expects to start flying 76-seat planes -- a size Northwest has said better fits demand in small and midsize cities compared to 34-, 50- and 69-seat planes its other commuters fly and Northwest's smallest plane, a 100-seat DC9.
Compass to fly from Dulles near D.C.
September 12, 2006
FREE PRESS BUSINESS WRITER
Northwest Airlines Inc. came a step closer Monday to starting its new commuter carrier, a key part of its restructuring plan.
The U.S. Department of Transportation said it plans to let the Northwest subsidiary, Compass Airlines, start flying out of Dulles International Airport in Virginia in October.
The department opened a 14-day window to hear objections.
Northwest, which has been reorganizing under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection for nearly a year, plans to use the subsidiary to fly passengers to its hubs -- Detroit; Minneapolis and Memphis, Tenn. -- and a network of small and midsize cities.
Compass would use Federal Aviation Administration certification that Northwest bought for $2 million from Independence Air, which closed its Dulles-based operation in January.
"The DOT action is another key milestone in the certification process of Compass Airlines," Northwest said.
In documents filed Monday, the Department of Transportation said Northwest plans to start flights between Dulles and Minneapolis using a 50-seat jet in October, a launch date that has been pushed back twice.
Northwest had applied for permission to start Compass operations at the end of March.
By March next year, the airline expects to start flying 76-seat planes -- a size Northwest has said better fits demand in small and midsize cities compared to 34-, 50- and 69-seat planes its other commuters fly and Northwest's smallest plane, a 100-seat DC9.
