Top political leaders discuss potential Northwest merger
Go Deeper.
Create an account or log in to save stories.
Like this?
Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.
There's increasing speculation Northwest and Delta airlines may soon announce they're combining. And that's why Gov. Tim Pawlenty met Thursday with U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, U.S. Rep. Jim Oberstar and staffers from U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman's office.
They discussed strategies to protect Minnesota's interests if there's a merger. Pawlenty spokesman Brian McClung says the governor has already told Northwest the state could give the arline financial incentives in return for air service and job guarantees.
"We have essentially said to them the state would like to know what additional steps we can take to ensure continued operations, and a high level presence in Minnesota. And we continue to be interested in exploring that," said McClung.
So far, Northwest has not asked for anything. Over the years, the state and Metropolitan Airports Commission have provided the airline big financial aid packages.
Northwest employs 12,000 people in Minnesota. And the airline took about 25 million passengers through the Twin Cities airport in 2007.
Turn Up Your Support
MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding. Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all.
Dear reader,
Your voice matters. And we want to hear it.
Will you help shape the future of Minnesota Public Radio by taking our short Listener Survey?
It only takes a few minutes, and your input helps us serve you better—whether it’s news, culture, or the conversations that matter most to Minnesotans.
