The Brief This year marks 100 years since Northwest Airlines’ first flight connecting Minnesota to the world. The Northwest Airlines History Center preserves the airline’s legacy with thousands of artifacts near Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. A century after Northwest Airlines took to the skies, a group of dedicated Minnesotans is working to keep its story alive for generations to come. "Northwest is as iconic as Pan Am or TWA," said Scott Norris, vice-chair, webmaster and editor of the Northwest Airlines History Center. Cooper, who parachuted from a Northwest flight with more than $200,000 in ransom money.