Actually the name Wings is according to my opinion originally of KLM/NW…

In may 1989 Northwest was threatened by some hostile take-overs. This was dangerous for the collaboration between KLM and NW, because NW would have been split-up in several divisions.
An other party of 2 former presidents of Mariott, A. Checci and G. Wilson, wanted to keep NWA together. Together with KLM and others, they formed a holding: Wings Holding Inc. This holding bought several shares of NWA Inc.
With Wings KLM owned 20% of the shares of NW.