Delta Sale

Northwest Airlines Bought FLYi

It was recently revealed that Northwest Airlines has bought the operating certificate of bankrupt FLYi Inc. for approximately $2 million. Northwest said it hopes to “accelerate the development of this subsidiary” by buying the certificate. The disclosure comes just days after Northwest reached a tentative agreement with its pilots that would allow it to form a subsidiary to fly jets with up to 76 seats. The agreement also gives Northwest’s 700 laid-off pilots the first right to any jobs at the subsidiary. FLYi said it had other bidders for the certificate, but that Northwest’s was the highest. FLYi was the parent company of Independence Air, based in Chantilly, Va., which shut down Jan. 5 after about a year and a half of operation. FLYi filed for Chapter 11 protection in November. Northwest had asked regional carriers for proposals for flying routes with jets with 76 or fewer passengers. The request went to Northwest feeders Mesaba Airlines and Pinnacle Airlines Corp.