Compass Airlines Near Takeoff


Northwest Airlines takes another step toward getting its Compass Airlines subsidiary off the ground.

The U.S. Department of Transportation has approved Compass' request to begin flying.

Compass still needs FAA approval to become the third regional carrier flying for Northwest. As a more than $4 million dollar investment, Compass could have as many as 36 small jets flying within five years, but its start date hasn't been set.

Compass will compete for regional flights with Northwest's two other regional feeders, Mesaba Airlines and Pinnacle Airlines, under the Northwest Airlink name. Those two carriers get all of their business from Northwest.

Both Northwest and Mesaba are reorganizing under bankruptcy protection.