~ Airline previously committed to maintain hub and headquarters in Twin Cities ~

Saint Paul – Governor Tim Pawlenty today appointed Metropolitan Airports Commission Chair Jack Lanners and Employment and Economic Development Commissioner Dan McElroy to lead a group that will closely monitor any talks regarding a Northwest Airlines merger to ensure Minnesota’s interests are protected.

“Having the headquarters and hub of a major airline here is an important asset for Minnesota,” Governor Pawlenty said. “In many ways, Northwest links us to the world. As talk of a merger heats up, I’ve asked Jack Lanners and Dan McElroy to lead our efforts to make sure that we are well-positioned to maintain these assets in our state and uphold the agreements Northwest has made with us.”

In May 2007, Northwest CEO Doug Steenland stated that the airline intended to keep its corporate headquarters and a major hub in Minnesota.

Northwest employs an estimated 12,000 people in Minnesota at their Eagan headquarters, an Eagan processing center, a maintenance base and support facilities at the airport and reservation centers in the Twin Cities and Chisholm.

Northwest has a contract to lease 22 gates at Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport through 2015 and another 79 gates through 2020. In addition, Northwest owes the Metropolitan Airports Commission more than $245 million in bond repayments. Both the airline’s lease agreement and bond covenants with the Metropolitan Airports Commission require the airline or its successor to maintain its hub and headquarters in Minnesota.