SimAirline.net - Viewpoint (Entries tagged as Northwest)

Northwest's Last Day

nospam@example.com (Aaron Robinson) — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 19:20:24 -0800

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.

Northwest Flights in the Final Months

nospam@example.com (Aaron Robinson) — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 04:18:00 -0800

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 Joins Six-Continent Club

nospam@example.com (Aaron Robinson) — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 18:32:00 -0700

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 & A: Delta and Northwest in Terminal Maps

nospam@example.com (Aaron Robinson) — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 23:22:49 -0700

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.

Delta/Northwest 'Crossfleeting' Begins

nospam@example.com (Aaron Robinson) — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 03:29:00 -0700

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.

Northwest's Pacific 757s

nospam@example.com (Aaron Robinson) — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 01:04:50 -0700

Northwest recently downgauged much of its Pacific network as its widebodies have entered the paint shop. Several 757-200Ws were transferred to Asia from transatlantic service and feature a longhaul configuration rather than the typical 'beach market' configuration in Asia. Four such routes from Tokyo Narita always receive these aircraft: Bangkok Suvarnabhumi, Busan, Seoul Incheon, and Taipei Taoyuan. Other Northwest 757 routes within Asia are flown with wingleted and non-wingleted 757s.

Moving to Delta

nospam@example.com (Aaron Robinson) — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 16:24:35 -0700

Today I accepted an offer to move from my current position at Northwest Airlines in fuel efficiency to a new one at Delta Air Lines in airport operations. As a result, I'll be commuting between cities a great deal over the next few months and eventually moving to Atlanta.

This will surely mean reduced time for me to manage SimAirline.net over that time, so I ask for your patience in approving PIREPs and replying to emails over that time. I'll provide more details and specifics as they become available. Thank you.

This topic is being discussed on the Message Boards.

Northwest Virtual - Future Logo

nospam@example.com (Aaron Robinson) — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 03:16:48 -0800

In December, we announced our future plans for Northwest Virtual, but hadn't yet decided on a brand to use. After much debate, we have opted to use the logo shown here, that used between 1989 and 2003. Here's how we came to that decision.

We polled pilots who regularly fly for Northwest Virtual to determine their preference between the 1989-2003 and 2003-2008 liveries. Our preference, and that of most pilots polled, was for the 1989-2003 brand. We felt this was a better choice because Northwest Virtual will be set in the mid-1990s, when the airline was its most successful, and because this logo was in use nearly three times as long.

Of pilots flying primarily for Northwest Virtual,
-1989-2003: 7 votes
-2003-2008: 8 votes

Of pilots flying regularly for Northwest Virtual (does not include the above votes),
-1989-2003: 21 votes
-2003-2008: 12 votes

Painting a 747

nospam@example.com (Aaron Robinson) — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 01:08:06 -0800

Delta recently released two videos that I thought I'd share. The first shows the repainting of the first Northwest 747-400, and the second shows it in flight. Enjoy!

Northwest Virtual's Future

nospam@example.com (Aaron Robinson) — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 22:02:00 -0800

The first Northwest aircraft has already been repainted in Delta livery, so this is a good time to update you on our plan for Northwest Virtual. When creating any historical virtual airline, we have a few goals in mind:
-portray the airline at its peak
-preserve key features of the airline's heritage
-offer features that are unique and different from our other VAs

To meet these ends, we've decided to set Northwest Virtual in the early- and mid-1990s, when Northwest was the fourth largest airline in the world, but before trouble started: the Asian Financial Crisis (1997) and a two-week pilot strike (1998). The VA will stretch those time boundaries a bit, but it'll ensure aircraft like the 727, 747 Classic, DC-9, and DC-10 are always well-represented at SimAirline.net. Northwest mainline flights will of course be included, but adding Airlink eventually (just as many flights) will depend on your support for the new "classic" Northwest Virtual.

Here are some of the features that Northwest Virtual will offer:
-Extensive 727 and 747-200 operations
-Domestic DC-10 operations
-Service to Australia
-Additional transatlantic and transpacific routes (including via Seoul)
-Additional domestic focus cities

In this time of transition, you likely have a lot of questions about how things will work and change. Here are some answers to those questions.

When will Northwest Virtual change to the "classic" version?
The SkyTeam Timetable currently lists Northwest-operated flights with the NW code. We'll switch when these flights are listed with the DL code.

What Northwest brand will be offered?
We have a preference, but we want your feedback as well. Pilots who identified themselves as regularly flying Northwest flights in our Annual Survey will be given a separate poll in the future, with special consideration for those who said they most often fly Northwest flights.

Where do pilots file PIREPs for Delta routes operated with Northwest aircraft, or for Northwest routes operated with Delta aircraft?
It depends on if these flights begin before or after the timetable changes. We'll communicate this further when more details become available.

When will Northwest aircraft in the Delta livery be offered, and where?
We'll start offering the aircraft on our site once they're repainted in real life and a repaint is available. They will all be available on the Fleet page at Delta Virtual.

What sort of flights or aircraft offered today will Northwest Virtual not include?
We aren't anywhere close to making these decisions, but here are some of Northwest's features that didn't exist in the 1990s:
-Indianapolis focus city
-numerous Caribbean/Mexico destinations
-757s across the Atlantic
-A319s, A330s, and 757-300s
-CRJ-200s, CRJ-900s, and E-175s

Our decision to include or not will try to balance several factors—whether it will be continued by Delta, its historical importance to Northwest, and how it fits within SimAirline.net as a whole.

What should my callsign be when flying a Northwest aircraft?
You should continue to use the "Northwest" callsign until Northwest's Air Operator Certificate is fully merged with Delta's, which is expected to occur in early 2010. 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."

Will Delta Virtual continue to offer transpacific flights from the West Coast?
Yes. We believe that Delta's 1990s gateways in Los Angeles and Portland do still have value, even though the routes may be duplicated. 90% of Delta Virtual's MD-11 flights are on these routes, and we think having nonstop West Coast-Asia routes are an important thing for us to offer.

If you have additional questions, please don't hesitate to ask. I've made a special topic on the Message Boards for this purpose. Let's make this a smooth transition to a new, expanded Delta Virtual and a classic Northwest Virtual.

Delta-Northwest Merger Approved

nospam@example.com (Aaron Robinson) — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 19:02:00 -0700

It's official. The U.S. Department of Justice approved the merger between Delta Air Lines and Northwest Airlines today. The integration process will take 12 to 24 months, with both airlines operating flights independently for the time being. Full details from Delta are available here.

What does this mean for Northwest Virtual and SimAirline.net? We have plans to continue Northwest's legacy as one of our virtual airlines, but we have not set an implementation date. The most logical time would be when the two airlines' schedules are combined into one, although this hasn't been announced yet. I'll be sure to provide you with more details on what our plans are once things become more clear.

As I asked when the merger was first announced: because I, as a Northwest employee, am personally affected by this proposed merger, I would prefer that you not ask me my thoughts on the matter.

This topic is being discussed on the Message Boards.

MSP 30R Approach

nospam@example.com (Aaron Robinson) — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 19:53:04 -0700

Have you flown into Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport in real life before? If so, chances are pretty good that you've arrived on Runway 30R. But have you ever noticed one building four miles from the threshold with a familiar logo on the roof?

Yes, that's NWA World Headquarters, 2700 Lone Oak Parkway. For those that are interested, my office is right underneath the west skylight.

Delta-Northwest Merger Formally Announced

nospam@example.com (Aaron Robinson) — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 04:59:34 -0700

Delta Air Lines and Northwest Airlines finally made their merger official last night. The merger is touted as a major victory for employees, passengers, and communities. Specific details of the merger include:
-Delta CEO Richard Anderson will lead the enlarged Delta.
-The company's headquarters will be in Atlanta.
-$1+ billion in annual revenue and cost synergies are expected, with less than $1 billion in one-time cash expenses related to integration.
-No hubs will close, although there was no comment about possible downsizing.

More details on the merger are available here.

Now, I'm sure you're all wondering what this means for SimAirline.net, especially since Continental is also considering a tie-up with United. First, remember that any airline merger must be approved by the Department of Justice, and it's unclear if any such deals would be approved. As I mentioned a few months ago, "if one of our airlines were to merge with another airline, our loyalty is first and foremost with that airline's brand. For instance, if one of our airlines were bought by another, we'd likely continue to operate that airline, but in a historical version. Of course, if two of our airlines were to merge, then the situation would be very interesting!" At this time, we have made no decisions regarding the future of any of our existing virtual airlines, nor will we until any merger comes much closer to completion.

Because I, as a Northwest employee, am personally affected by this proposed merger, I would prefer that you not ask me my thoughts on the matter.

This topic is being discussed on the Message Boards.

Northwest Celebrates New MSP-Paris Route

nospam@example.com (Aaron Robinson) — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 01:56:21 -0700

To celebrate the launch of its new Minneapolis/St. Paul-Paris de Gaulle route earlier this week, Northwest Airlines christened the first flight's A330-300 (N810NW) the "Spirit of Lindbergh" in honor of Minnesota native Charles Lindbergh and his solo nonstop flight to Paris eight decades earlier. As part of the inaugural flight, a replica of the Spirit of St. Louis was on hand, as well as Lindbergh's grandson Lars and great-granddaughter Amelia. Oh, and the terminal the flight departed from? The Lindbergh Terminal, of course.

More pictures of the event are available here.

Q & A: Big Sky at SimAirline.net?

nospam@example.com (Aaron Robinson) — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 00:23:41 -0700

Q: Now that Big Sky Airlines has closed, will their Delta Connection flights from Boston be added to Discontinued Flights? Also, will their independent operations reappear at Northwest Virtual?

A: Yes, the (very brief) operations of Big Sky as Delta Connection will be added to Delta Virtual's Discontinued Flights. Most of these flights were Essential Air Service (EAS) contracts, and some of these had replaced CommutAir's services under the Continental Connection banner. These flights have been removed from Continental Virtual and will (with one exception) continue to be served at Delta Virtual. This is because of our policy about adding Discontinued Flights: with exceptions for historically significant operations, the route must fit in the airline's existing route network. These EAS routes out of Boston made much more sense at Delta than Continental. Big Sky also flew three EAS routes from Delta's Cincinnati hub—these will also be offered.

Big Sky's home routes within Montana though, will not be added back to Northwest Virtual. While Big Sky was originally a Northwest Airlink partner, that was over two decades ago. We originally offered these flights because of Northwest's ownership stake in Big Sky. However, we've since changed our policy of offering 'ownership stake airlines' because these relationships can often be unstable and fall apart. In addition, the Big Sky routes don't really fit with Northwest's (see above).

As always, you may ask a question by posting a comment or emailing me. I look forward to answering more of your questions!