Mesaba Airlines

  • Minneapolis -Saint Paul
  • Detroit
  • Memphis

Mesaba Airlines, Mesaba Aviation actually, Inc., was an American airline based in Eagan, Minnesota. She led under the brand name Delta Connection regional and feeder flights for Delta Air Lines (formerly Northwest Airlines) by.

History

Mesaba was founded in 1944 by Gordon Newstrom in Coleraine, Minnesota and began in the same year with the flight operating under the name of Mesaba Aviation. The name means, in the language of the Ojibwa " sleeping giant ". She was in possession of a Piper J- 3 Cub and she sat for the shuttle operation of the Blandin Paper Mill Company of Grand Rapids, Minnesota to Minneapolis one. In 1950, the headquarters were moved to Grand Rapids.

In 1970, the family bought Halverson from Duluth ( Minnesota) the company of Newstrom. 1973 Mesaba began scheduled service between several destinations in Minnesota.

1977 Mesaba was sold to the family Swenson from Thief River Falls, Minnesota. She changed the corporate form in 1982 in a company, expanding its flight network in the states of Iowa, North Dakota and South Dakota. To this end, they set up a fleet of Beechcraft 99.

1983 Mesaba codeshare partner of Republic Airlines and flew with turboprop aircraft from small airports to Minneapolis- St Paul International Airport. After 1986, the cooperation with Republic Airlines Northwest Orient began Measaba finished the code -share agreement and launched air operations as Northwest Airlink.

From 1988, Mesaba began with feeder flights from small airports from the East and Midwest to Detroit Metropolitan County Airport. For this purpose, Fokker F-27 were used and Fairchild Metro machines. Main bases were Detroit and Wausau, Wisconsin.

1991 leased Mesaba 25 de Havilland Canada DHC- 8 aircraft from Northwest Airlines to replace the Fokker F-27.

1995 met Mesaba and Northwest an agreement on the use of Saab 340 turboprops. Until 1996, the Mesaba fleet increased to 55 aircraft.

The Memphis hub of Northwest Airlines until 1997 was exclusively from the Airlink partner Express Airlines (now Pinnacle Airlines) served as Mesaba began using the first regional airline Avro RJ 85 jets. Mesaba was also the first regional airline with a first class option. Due to the use of the new Canadair Regional Jets by Pinnacle Mesaba took over all Northwest Airlink flights which were used Saab 340 Machinery.

In 2000, Mesaba received his last letter RJ 85 and 11 new Saab 340 Machinery. This Mesaba was the world's largest operators of Avro BAe 146/RJ aircraft and the second largest operator of Saab 340 Machinery.

After September 11, 2001 Mesaba reduced the operation by 20 percent in order to save costs. 2003 planned Northwest renewed use of the Avro jet fleet, starting with 5 aircraft. Mesaba graduated with Northwest a contract to deploy an Avro fleet for the next few years. In 2005 it was announced that Mesaba had obtained the exclusive rights for the next 15 Canadair Regional Jets for use for Airlink to eventually replace the Avro jets.

On September 14, 2005 Northwest Airlines fell under the protection of creditors under Chapter 11 of U.S. bankruptcy proceedings. As a result, Northwest held back about U.S. $ 25 million in payments for Mesaba and Pinnacle. This Mesaba also fell under the protection of creditors under Chapter 11 The fleet was halved. The Avro RJ should be anyway replaced by Bombardier CRJ and remained on the ground. 10 leased from Pinnacles Saab 340 were returned. Back Remained a fleet of 49 Saab 340

In December 2006, Northwest announced the acquisition of Mesaba of the MAIR Holding. On April 24, 2007 Mesaba left the protection of creditors and was completely taken over by Northwest Airlines. In July 2010, Mesaba was acquired by Pinnacle Airlines Corporation and eventually integrated into early 2012.

Destinations

Last Mesaba operating regional routes from Minneapolis- Saint Paul International Airport, the Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport and Memphis International Airport to small and medium-sized airports under the brand name Delta Connection for Delta Air Lines.

Fleet

As of November 2011, the fleet of Mesaba Airlines consisted of 83 aircraft:

Mesaba Airlines was the largest operator of the Bombardier CRJ900 world.

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