Aircraft – Airbus A320

As the merger with Republic moved from secret discussion to public announcement, Northwest management had more than one big decision to make about the future of the company, and fleet planning was one of the most critical. Pre-merger Northwest had too many large aircraft flying sectors too short to justify the capacity: ordering 757s to replace 727-200s and some DC-10s was a start, but left smaller stations in a bind. Republic didn’t contribute enough long-range, 150-seat craft to meet demand. And the entire blended fleet (except the 757s and 747-400s) had fuel-thirsty engines at a time when oil prices were about to explode. All the different fleet types made for inconsistent passenger experience and drove higher maintenance spares and training costs, as well.

And based on Republic’s success at stimulating traffic with its three-hub Heartland Strategy, Northwest anticipated even more aircraft would be necessary than the combined carrier would have on hand.

Northwest needed a bold strategy to standardize and simplify its fleet, with an aircraft of moderate capacity yet having enough range to efficiently handle transcontinental nonstops as well as short-haul regional sectors.

Boeing was selling its 130-seat 737-300 in huge numbers and was offering a stretched 150-seat 737-400 to complement it. But the delivery window was long and the aircraft (especially the -400) had range issues. These may not have been deal-breakers, but Boeing also was not interested in offering the pricing Northwest was looking for.

John Leahy, sales head at Airbus, paid a call to Minneapolis. The A320 was still under development but was showing promising fuel efficiency and performance figures, and at that time only Pan Am had placed orders for it in North America. Leahy offered what he called an “irresistible buy small, think big” offer: the unit pricing of an order for 100 jets, but NWA would only have to commit to take 10. With delivery slots in only two years. If Northwest didn’t like them, he said, “That’s it. You’re stuck with 10. We’ll take the risk on the rest of them.”

The airplane was everything Northwest wanted, handing everything from Detroit-Grand Rapids to Minneapolis-Caribbean runs, and even as far afield as Tokyo-Taiwan. It fit the space perfectly between the 757 and the DC-9 and there were enough of them to gain cost advantages in sourcing and maintenance. While the Gulf War put a crimp in expansion, NWA would eventually take 80 A320s and a similar number of its smaller sister A319s.

If you use these photos, please credit the Northwest Airlines History Center – please also contact us to let us know how you’re using them and if we can be of further help!

Airbus-supplied illustration for Northwest’s initial order in October 1986. NWAHC collection.
Illustration of N301US in its original “thermometer” paint by artist “justintx79” from the simulation game Xplane.
Illustration of N301US in its original “thermometer” paint by artist “justintx79” from the simulation game Xplane.
First of the fleet, N301US having arrived in Minneapolis-St. Paul from delivery on June 8, 1989, in the new Bowling Shoe colors with grey nacelles. NWAHC collection.
N301US, freshly delivered from Europe and still sporting grey engine nacelles, on July 9, 1989. Airport and photographer unknown. Slide from the Scott Norris collection.
N315US at Los Angeles, May 6, 1991. Photographer unknown. From the Scott Norris slide collection.
N307US at the South Satellite of SEA, April 1992 shot by AeroIcarus, CC2.0 license. Original file at https://www.flickr.com/photos/aero_icarus/52878135912/in/photostream/
Slide from the AeroIcarus collection of N320US at Milwaukee? in June 1992. CC2.0 license, original file at https://www.flickr.com/photos/aero_icarus/52962938270/
N346NW posting at Minneapolis-St. Paul in (likely) 1994. Photographer unknown, via David Keller through the Scott Norris collection.
N331NW arrives at Los Angeles, Dec. 27, 1997. Jon Proctor photo used with permission – available through Wikimedia Commons.
Thomas Kim shot of N305US at Minneapolis-St. Paul, August 2001. Slide from the Scott Norris collection.
Douglas Slowiak captured N353NW landing at Phoenix in this image from January 2002.
Douglas Slowiak caught N373NW in Phoenix, in February 2002.
N373NW in May 2002, unknown airport and photographer. From the Scott Norris slide collection.
August 2003 capture of N347NW at Phoenix, by Terry Nash.
N328NW pulling into Atlanta in April 2004. Shot by Scott Norris.
June 2004 image of N378NW at what looks like Philadelphia. Photographer unknown. From the Scott Norris slide collection.
N228NW caught in a landing pose, August 2004. Airport and photographer unattributed; slide from Scott Norris’ collection.
N363NW rolls toward the runway midday at Minneapolis-St.Paul on February 5, 2005. Photo by Scott Norris.
N329NW at the gate at Minneapolis-St.Paul on March 7, 2005. Photo by Scott Norris.
N371NW docked and loading at Milwaukee in July 2005. Photo by Scott Norris.
N371NW docked and loading at Milwaukee in July 2005. Photo by Scott Norris.
N330NW launches into the sky from Minneapolis-St.Paul in July 2005. Photo by Scott Norris.
N321NW taxis in to Minneapolis-St.Paul in July 2005. Photo by Scott Norris.
N343NW at the gate at Minneapolis-St.Paul in July 2005. Photo by Scott Norris.
N312US seen at Phoenix in December 2005. Photo by Terry Nash.
N365NW captured at Phoenix in January 2006. Photo by Terry Nash.
N359NW in the snow at MSP, March 2009. Photo by Scott Norris.

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