AP
Northwest Buys FLYi Operating Certificate
Friday March 10, 4:25 pm ET
Northwest Buys FLYi Operating Certificate in Move Toward Starting New Unit for Regional Flying

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Northwest Airlines Corp. said it has bought the operating certificate of bankrupt FLYi Inc., a key move toward starting a new subsidiary for regional flying.

Northwest confirmed on Friday that it bought the operating certificate "and related assets" which it didn't name. The operating certificate is a document the Federal Aviation Administration requires airlines to have, and buying someone else's is considered easier than completing the paperwork to start one from scratch.

Last week Northwest reached a tentative agreement with pilots that allows it to start a subsidiary to fly planes with 51 to 76 seats -- a key size in Northwest's Midwestern markets.

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 Airlines: http://www.nwa.com