Compass Airlines (North America)

Compass Airlines
Founded	September 28, 2006
Commenced operations	May 2, 2007
Ceased operations	April 5, 2020
AOC #	C77A868L
Hubs	Detroit; Los Angeles; Memphis (2006–2013); Minneapolis/St. Paul; Seattle/Tacoma;
Frequent-flyer program	AAdvantage (American); SkyMiles (Delta); WorldPerks (Northwest);
Alliance	Oneworld (American); SkyTeam (Delta/Northwest);
Parent company	Northwest Airlines (2006–2010); Delta Air Lines (Jan 2010–Jun 2010); Trans States Holdings (2010–2020);
Headquarters	Delta Air Lines Building C; Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport; Fort Snelling, Minnesota, United States
Key people	Rick Leach (President & CEO)

Compass Airlines, LLC, was a regional airline in the United States that operated from 2006 to 2020, when it shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was headquartered in Delta Air Lines Building C at Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport in Fort Snelling, Hennepin County, Minnesota;^[2]^[3] prior to December 16, 2009, it was headquartered in unincorporated Fairfax County, Virginia, United States, east of the Chantilly CDP.^[4]^[5]^[6] The airline launched inaugural service with a single Bombardier CRJ200 aircraft under the Northwest Airlink brand between Minneapolis/St. Paul and Washington, D.C., on May 2, 2007. On August 21, 2007, it began flying two Embraer 175 76-passenger aircraft, and expanded to 36 aircraft by December 2008.

Formerly a wholly owned subsidiary of Northwest Airlines and later Delta Air Lines, in July 2010, the company was sold to Trans States Holdings. At the time, Compass was the only remaining airline of the former Northwest Airlines Group.^[7]

During its 14-year history, Compass Airlines operated over 1.5 million flights. In 2016, at its peak, Compass operated 62 aircraft and employed just over 2,000 employees.

Compass ceased operations on April 5, 2020, citing reduced travel demand stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, along with their ownership's failed attempts to secure additional flying. The airline ceased operations within a week after their sister-company, Trans States Airlines, leaving GoJet Airlines as the sole airline operated by Trans States Holdings.

^ "Federal Aviation Administration - Airline Certificate Information - Detail View". av-info.faa.gov. Archived from the original on June 21, 2023. Retrieved June 27, 2019.
^ "Expanded Branch and ATM Access Comes to the Twin Cities Archived 2012-03-18 at the Wayback Machine." Wings Financial. Retrieved on January 19, 2012. "Delta Air Lines Bldg. C* 7500 Airline Drive Minneapolis, MN"
^ "delta air lines' farmers market-building c." Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. Retrieved on January 19, 2012. "Location: MSP Airport-Delta Building C, North Side near Compass Airlines Entrance"
^ "About Us Archived July 11, 2007, at the Wayback Machine." Compass Airlines. Retrieved on September 26, 2009, and on December 18, 2009.
^ "Chantilly CDP, Virginia Archived June 28, 2009, at the Wayback Machine." U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on September 26, 2009.
^ "Fort Snelling UT, Hennepin county, Minnesota ^{[dead link]}." U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on December 19, 2009.
^ Polek, Gregory. "Delta sells Mesaba, Compass subsidiaries". Aviation International News. Archived from the original on June 20, 2023. Retrieved August 9, 2021.

[FAA-1] "Federal Aviation Administration - Airline Certificate Information - Detail View". av-info.faa.gov. Archived from the original on June 21, 2023. Retrieved June 27, 2019.

[2] "Expanded Branch and ATM Access Comes to the Twin Cities Archived 2012-03-18 at the Wayback Machine." Wings Financial. Retrieved on January 19, 2012. "Delta Air Lines Bldg. C* 7500 Airline Drive Minneapolis, MN"

[3] "delta air lines' farmers market-building c." Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. Retrieved on January 19, 2012. "Location: MSP Airport-Delta Building C, North Side near Compass Airlines Entrance"

[4] "About Us Archived July 11, 2007, at the Wayback Machine." Compass Airlines. Retrieved on September 26, 2009, and on December 18, 2009.

[5] "Chantilly CDP, Virginia Archived June 28, 2009, at the Wayback Machine." U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on September 26, 2009.

[6] "Fort Snelling UT, Hennepin county, Minnesota ^{[dead link]}." U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on December 19, 2009.

[7] Polek, Gregory. "Delta sells Mesaba, Compass subsidiaries". Aviation International News. Archived from the original on June 20, 2023. Retrieved August 9, 2021.

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