Mesaba AirlinesMES/ XJ

Mesaba Airlines was a regional carrier headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, that operated from 1944 until its closure in 2010. The airline primarily operated regional passenger flights under the Northwest Airlink brand, serving as a key feeder carrier for Northwest Airlines (later Delta Air Lines) from its main hub at Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport. Mesaba provided essential regional connectivity throughout the Upper Midwest and beyond, operating short-haul routes that fed traffic into Northwest's major hub. The airline was eventually acquired by Delta Air Lines and integrated into Delta's regional operations before ceasing independent operations. Mesaba's service was characterized by regional turboprop and regional jet operations that connected smaller communities to major airline hubs, making it a typical regional carrier business model of its era.