797-3

There are many aspects of the Delta takeover of Northwest which are discussed elsewhere. How about the narrow topic of the loss of the Northwest name.

I regret to see the loss of the Northwest name. Sounds nice. Livery has always been good (you can debate whether it's outstanding or not, but all the liveries of NW have always been very pleasant and businesslike).

Doesn't Delta have stains to their reputation? Like having high fares in the South and (subject to argument) thrusting the last knife into Pan Am? With the Delta name, the airline name will be just a commodity to me. With Northwest, even if I was in a long delay, I'd think "at least the plane looks sleek and the name sounds nice".

Continental is also a nice name but United isn't bad either.

stdatwmu

I have to agree with the OP on this one... I think the NW livery is very clean and has always been very unique, especially the one just prior to the current silver - although I do enjoy the current livery very much, too. They've kept is up-to-date with the style of the time for the most part while also not cluttering it up or changing it around a bunch... cough, early-2000s-Delta, cough.

It will be a very sad day to see the NW DC9's and 330's and 747's in Delta colors.

jib71

Why not make a clean break? There are dozens of perfectly good names that haven't even been tried yet. I propose "Usonian Airlines" or "Dymaxion Airlines"

There would be endless opportunities for super-cool logos, liveries and designs.

I'm having a Buckminster Lloyd Wright day.

cerealmarketer

Going have to remember to take some photos of those silver NWA 747s parked at the gate by the fountains at DTW while we still can. That's always a beautiful shot from inside the terminal.

But the DC-9s will come full circle for Delta.

DavidDTW

There is a lot of history behind the Northwest (Orient) name...sad to see it go. Not so much for Delta. I also would like to see them keep NW around.

Yaatri

Northwest is a better name with more international recognition going back decades. Since international operations are more profitable than domestic ops, retaining NW name and/or colours would be of benefit to the merged airline.

OnMedic

interesting thread... I previously suggested Delta for domestic and Northwest for international... must like United & Ted or Delta & Song... ot Air Canada & Jazz... etc

DanTravels

Are the DC-9s even worth repainting?

Lehava

Delta and its name go back to 1928. How can you claim it doesnt have its own valued history? Personally think a new name might have been easier all around, but of of the two, I ok with it being delta.

sxf24

It's ironic that your accuse DL of high fares in the south, when NW is certainly guilty of that in the 'Heartland.'

DL did thrust the last knife in PA, but the airline was practically dead so it didn't take much.

Overall, Northwest is a very regional name, albeit one with good recognition in Asia. On the other hand, Delta is more universally translated and, although originally derived from the Mississippi Delta, also means 'change.'

Bobster

I have a book about the history of the American aviation indusdry, and Northwest is only mentioned in connection to the D.B. Cooper hijacking.

respectable_man

Sorry but are you on hard drugs?! Northwest is no more regional than British Airways or Air France or Thai or Singapore Airlines.

Delta is completely generic: there are dozens of companies with Delta in their name - including (but not limited to) Delta Hotels, Delta Faucets, Delta controls and a town in British Columbia.

ihearttravl

the DC-9's should be painted in skull and bones livery, because the graveyard is where they should go. followed soon by the md-80's. im not hating or anything, but northwest does have one of the world's oldest fleets and it would be nice to have some extra $ around to replace those ancient beasts.@:-)

DanTravels

It's also a wing shape, but unfortunately I don't think any airlines are flying planes with it.

cj001f

Northeast and Northwest together at last.