Republic Airlines Pilot Hat Badge

Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN 1979-1986

Started as Wisconsin Central Airlines in 1948. Name changed to North Central Airlines in 1952. In 1979, North Central Airlines and Southern Airways merged and changed their name to Republic Airlines. In 1980, Republic acquired Hughes Air West which comprise three other airlines, Bonanza, Pacific and West Coast Airlines. After the merger, losses mounted and service reductions followed. Republic Airlines merged with Northwest Airlines and the merger was completed on October 1, 1986. Northwest subsequently merged with Delta Air Lines in 2008; the deal was finalized in January 2010, with Delta as the surviving brand.