SimAirline.net - Viewpoint

Yesterday marked Northwest Airlines' final day of operations. While Northwest Airlines legally ceased to exist at the end of December and all January flights have technically been operated by Delta Air Lines, yesterday was the last time the 'Northwest' callsign and NW/NW codes were used. The final Northwest arrival was flight 2470, an A320 from Los Angeles to Las Vegas.

Going forward, all formerly Northwest flights can once more be found in the SkyTeam Timetable. Because they all now have Delta flight numbers, they should be filed through the Delta Virtual PIREP page. Of course, Northwest-painted aircraft are still flying, so it is acceptable to fly in Northwest livery. The Northwest Virtual PIREP should only be used for flying those flights in the SimAirline.net Timetable, i.e., discontinued flights.

For the last month the SkyTeam Timetable has not listed any Northwest flights. This change was unexpected for us and premature, as Northwest is still flying. The current merger timetable is for Delta and Northwest to achieve Single Operating Certificate after operations conclude on 31 December, while reservations will not cut over until after 31 January. Below are answers to many of your questions about how to fly and file Northwest flights.

What is considered a Northwest flight vs. a Delta flight?
The operating airline is not the deciding factor because of 'crossfleeted' flights, under which a Northwest aircraft may fly a Delta route, and vice versa. While you should always fly the appropriate aircraft, the marketing airline, i.e., DL or NW code, determines what we consider a Delta or Northwest flight.

So, how do I go about searching for Northwest flights?
Our new recommendation is to use the Northwest/KLM Timetable program. This will list flights with Northwest flight numbers through 31 January. Note: we continue to recommend that you use the SkyTeam Timetable for KLM flights.

How do I go about flying Northwest flights?
While they should obviously be with the appropriate aircraft, the choice of flying in Delta or Northwest livery is up to you. As discussed in one of our original merger FAQs, you should continue to use the "Northwest" callsign through 31 December. However, if flying a Northwest aircraft in Delta livery, the FAA has asked for the callsign to include the phrase "Delta colors" after the flight number, e.g., "Northwest 714 Delta colors." Effective 1 January, if flying in Northwest livery, we recommend having your callsign read the reverse, e.g., "Delta 714 Northwest colors." However, this last point has not yet been confirmed.

How do I go about filing Northwest flights?
Northwest flights should continue to be filed through the Northwest PIREP page, and must be filed with the Northwest flight number, not the Delta flight number.

When will Northwest Virtual close?
Although Northwest Airlines will close on 31 December or 31 January, depending on your perspective, we will keep Northwest Virtual open through SimAirline.net's close on 30 April. However, the only flights remaining will be those discontinued routes listed in the SimAirline.net Timetable.

We also recommend you read this NOTAM on Delta/Northwest crossfleeting.

If you have other unanswered questions, please contact me and ask.

Delta Air Lines today becomes the latest U.S. airline (and the first since Pan Am) to serve six continents, as it launches service to Sydney from Los Angeles. Delta becomes the seventh airline in the world today to become part of the club, joining Air France, British Airways, Emirates, Korean Air, Malaysia Airlines, and South African Airways. Interestingly, most of the members are represented at SimAirline.net! Additional VAs we offer that serve six continents (thanks to discontinued routes or their historical status) are Alitalia, AOM, KLM, and Pan American.

In addition to today's Sydney launch, today Delta is starting service from Los Angeles to Sao Paulo Guarulhos and relocates Northwest's operations to Delta's facilities at Terminals 5 and 6. The most recent issue of Airline Business also had a special article on the increasing competition across the South Pacific.

Q: With Delta and Northwest moving gates at numerous airports, when will our terminal maps be updated to reflect their new locations?

A: With over 60 airports left to consolidate gates (including some major airports like Los Angeles) and a classic Northwest Virtual on the way when the Northwest brand disappears next year, we've decided to wait on changing terminal maps until things have settled in this year. The current expectation is that all airport locations will be relocated near the end of the year. At that time, we'll move/add additional Delta gates and set Northwest gates to those to be used in our classic version.

Today Delta and Northwest aircraft begin 'crossfleeting' on various mainline routes (Mesaba began flying some Delta routes last month). What does this mean in real life and what does it mean for you? Delta and Northwest are starting to swap aircraft across the two route networks. Each flight has three aspects that identify it as either Delta or Northwest:
-Whose route is the flight typically associated with?
-What airline is operating the flight?
-Whose flight number is on the flight?

When you encounter a route that doesn't have all three of these items the same, you're probably confused about which VA it should be filed under. The rule is simple: whoever's flight number is on the route is where the PIREP should be filed. Here are some examples for you.

DL5750, Atlanta-Hilton Head Island, Mesaba Saab 340
This is a Northwest Airlink carrier flying a Delta route with a Delta flight number. Because the flight number is Delta, the PIREP should be filed under Delta Virtual.

DL820, Atlanta-Rome Fiumicino, Northwest A330-300
Northwest is flying a Delta route with a Delta flight number. Because the flight number is Delta, the PIREP should be filed under Delta Virtual.

NW762, Minneapolis/St. Paul-Paris CDG, Delta 767-300/300ER
Delta is flying a Northwest route with a Northwest flight number. Because the flight number is Northwest, the PIREP should be filed under Northwest Virtual.

NW1431, New York LaGuardia-Ft. Lauderdale, Northwest A319
Northwest is flying a Delta route with a Northwest flight number. Because the flight number is Northwest, the PIREP should be filed under Northwest Virtual.

If a Northwest aircraft is flying with a Delta flight number, does it need to be in Delta livery?
No, it does not. You may fly the flight in either Delta or Northwest livery. Naturally though, a Delta aircraft flying a Northwest flight number needs to be in Delta livery.

How do I know if a flight is crossfleeted?
Whenever a tilde (~) or an asterisk (* reminder: these may not be flown) appears after the flight number, then the flight is not operated by the brand owner (e.g., DL6361~ is a Comair flight, not a Delta Air Lines flight). Click on the flight number to see who operates the flight.

Is there a list of these routes?
I have such a list, but it's quite lengthy. Instead, here's a website that lists all the news on this subject as it becomes available.

If anything is unclear, I've created a special topic on the Message Boards where you can ask questions.