Merger in the air

Saying goodbye to Northwest like end of high school romance

by Peter Smith, Minnesota Public Radio

St. Paul, Minn. — If federal regulators approve the Delta-Northwest deal, the combined airline will be based in Atlanta and take the Delta name. The leaders of both airlines have vowed to maintain a strong company presence in Minnesota. But loss of the headwuarters, and the Northwest name, brings something of an end to eight decades of history between the carrier and the State of Minnesota.

Morning Edition commentator Peter Smith has his own, unique, take on that history.

Broadcast Dates

• Morning Edition, 04/16/2008, 7:55 a.m.