This should surprise, no one. Delta has long been on Compass' rear about its operation. And not just maintenance and reliability but also crew training and adherence to Delta service standards. The writing's been on the wall for at least a year if not more. And given Delta's new focus on scoring all of its suppliers and partners, Compass' poorer performance metrics were further out in the open at HQ. I even wonder if YX and OO will need some time to catch-up all the work on the E75 fleet they're getting. While Delta owns the plans, Compass had complete responsibility for the maintenance outside and in. Even despite building a hangar at SJC and placing a crew and maintenance base in PHX, Compass still wasn't hitting its marks.

Now as a customer with 200k miles a year mostly out west, I avoided Compass flights as much as I could. They've proven themselves a lower-rung Connection carrier for years. But as a former NWA flier, I'll miss the last real connection to Northwest and the Compass logo ala NWA.