Northwest Virtual is based on the world's fifth largest airline, Northwest Airlines, and its regional affiliates, Compass Airlines, Mesaba Airlines, and Pinnacle Airlines, offering all flights of their domestic and international network. In addition to these, flights of now-closed Airlink partner Pacific Island Aviation are also offered.

Northwest Airways began operations on 1 October 1926, flying mail from the Twin Cities to Chicago. Passenger service began the following year. The airline was renamed Northwest Airlines in 1931, and again as Northwest Orient Airlines in 1947, the same year it began the first airline service between Japan and the U.S. Northwest aircraft first had their tails painted red in 1948, a tradition that has continued since. Northwest helped set up Japan Air Lines following World War II.

Northwest continued its pioneering service on U.S-Japan services with the first "polar route" service in 1959, operating the route with its first jets the next year. Northwest was also the first 747 operator across the Pacific, flying its first 747 in 1970. Northwest acquired Republic Airlines, a combination of North Central, Hughes Airwest, and Southern, in 1986, giving Northwest a domestic system to complement its extensive international network. Following the merger, Northwest returned from Northwest Orient Airlines to the previous Northwest Airlines name.

Northwest began codesharing with KLM Royal Dutch Airlines in 1991, and their alliance is the most advanced in the world. Northwest joined the SkyTeam Alliance in 2004. The airline filed for bankrupty in September 2005 and emerged in May 2007.

Mesaba began service as a Northwest Airlink carrier in 1984 (with Republic the year before). Pinnacle (Express Airlines I until 2002) began operations in 1985 as a Republic Express carrier. Both are partially owned by Northwest. Pacific Island Aviation, a third Airlink carrier operating in the Marianas, ceased operations in 2005. Compass began operations in 2007.

Northwest was the launch customer for the 747-400, beginning operations with it in 1989. Northwest is today the world's largest operator of the A320 series and DC-9, and Mesaba the largest Avro and Saab 340 operator. Interestingly, Northwest never ordered any DC-9s; all were acquired via the merger with Republic.

Headquarters: Northwest - Eagan, MN, U.S.; Compass - Chantilly, VA, U.S.; Mesaba - Eagan, MN, U.S.; Pinnacle - Memphis, TN, U.S.
Virtual Airline Operating Since: June 2001
Unique Aircraft Types: Shorts 360
Number of Destinations: 290
Unique Destinations (50): Aberdeen (SD), Alpena, Bemidji, Benton Harbor, Bismarck, Brainerd, Columbia (MO), Devils Lake, Dubuque, Duluth, Eau Claire, Ely, Escanaba, Ft. Dodge, Grand Forks, Grand Rapids (MN), Greenville, Hancock, Hibbing, International Falls, Iron Mountain, Ithaca, Jamestown (ND), Joplin, Kenora, Kitchener, La Crosse, Lafayette (IN), Latrobe, Laurel/Hattiesburg, Lincoln, Marquette, Mason City, Minot, Muscle Shoals, Muskegon, Paducah, Pellston, Pierre, Rhinelander, Rochester (MN), Rockford, Sault Ste. Marie (MI), St. Cloud, Thief River Falls, Tinian, Waterloo, Watertown (SD), Wausau, Youngstown