August 13, 2026

Northwest shares surge on merger report

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Shares of Northwest Airlines surged 14 percent today after a St. Paul television station reported Northwest and American Airlines executives have talked about a possible bid by American to buy Northwest.

KSTP-TV, citing unnamed "well-placed" sources within the industry, reported Thursday night that American head Don J. Carty and Northwest President and Chief Executive John Dasburg have been in contact about a possible merger.

Northwest and American would not comment on the television report.

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