History Beginnings Northwest Airlines was founded on September 1, 1926, by Colonel Lewis Brittin, under the name Northwest Airways, a reference to the historical name for the Midwestern United States that derived from the Northwest Territory. Like other early airlines, Northwest's focus was not in hauling passengers, but in flying mail for the U.S. Post Office Department. The airline was originally based in Detroit, Michigan."Significant events in Northwest's history ." Associated Press at NBC News. September 14, 2005. Retrieved on January 11, 2012. The fledgling airline established a mail route between Minneapolis and Chicago, using open-cockpit biplanes such as the Curtiss Oriole and the Waco JYM. From 1928 the enclosed cabin six-passenger Hamilton H-45 and H-47 were used.
histoRy BEgINnIngs nOrthwest airlInes wAs FouNded on September 1, 1926, by coloNeL lewis brittIn, UNder THe name nortHWEST airways, A reFerencE to thE historicaL naME for thE mIdweSTern uNItEd StatEs tHAT dERivEd from The nOrthwest teRritorY. lIke oTHER eaRLY aIRlinES, NorThwESt'S FOcUs was not iN HaULIng PasseNgers, but in FlYing maiL for THE u.s. post officE DepaRTment. the aIRLine was oRIgiNally BaseD in dETrOit, miChigAn."signiFiCant eVeNtS in nORThWEst's histoRy ." assOCiaTed prESs aT nbC NeWS. sePtembeR 14, 2005. retRieved On jaNuary 11, 2012. the flEDGlIng aIrLine esTablished a maiL route bEtWeeN minNEaPolis and ChicAgo, usInG OpEN-cOckpiT biplaneS such aS tHe cuRtiSs oriolE and the wAcO jym. from 1928 the encLoseD caBIN sIx-PASsenGer haMiLTOn h-45 ANd H-47 wEre used.