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  <p align="center" style="border:none;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;padding:0in;text-align:center;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
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  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;text-autospace:none;"><b><font size="5" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:18.0pt;font-weight:bold;">UNITED STATES</font></b></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;text-autospace:none;"><b><font size="5" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:18.0pt;font-weight:bold;">SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</font></b></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;text-autospace:none;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549</font></b></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <div align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;text-autospace:ideograph-numeric;"><hr size="1" width="25%" noshade color="black" align="center"></div>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;text-autospace:ideograph-numeric;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;text-autospace:none;"><b><font size="5" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:18.0pt;font-weight:bold;">FORM&nbsp;8-K</font></b></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;text-autospace:none;"><b><font size="3" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold;">CURRENT REPORT</font></b></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;text-autospace:none;"><b><font size="3" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Pursuant to Section&nbsp;13 or 15(d)&nbsp;of the</font></b></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;text-autospace:none;"><b><font size="3" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Securities Exchange Act of 1934</font></b></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Date of report:&nbsp; <b>May&nbsp;16, 2008</b></font></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;Date of earliest event
  reported:&nbsp; <b>May&nbsp;13, 2008</b></font></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;text-autospace:none;"><b><font size="5" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:18.0pt;font-weight:bold;">NORTHWEST AIRLINES CORPORATION</font></b></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(Exact name of registrant as
  specified in its charter)</font></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
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    <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;text-autospace:none;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Delaware</font></b></p>
    </td>
    <td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:2.0%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:none;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;font-weight:bold;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>
    </td>
    <td width="32%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:32.0%;">
    <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;text-autospace:none;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">0-23642</font></b></p>
    </td>
    <td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:2.0%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:none;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;font-weight:bold;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>
    </td>
    <td width="32%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:32.0%;">
    <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;text-autospace:none;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">41-1905580</font></b></p>
    </td>
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    <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(State or
    other jurisdiction<br>
    of incorporation)</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:2.0%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="32%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:32.0%;">
    <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(Commission
    File Number)</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:2.0%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="32%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:32.0%;">
    <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)</font></p>
    </td>
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  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
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    <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;text-autospace:none;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">2700 Lone Oak Parkway</font></b></p>
    </td>
    <td width="18%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:18.86%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="32%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:32.12%;">
    <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
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    <td width="49%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:49.02%;">
    <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;text-autospace:none;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Eagan, Minnesota</font></b></p>
    </td>
    <td width="18%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:18.86%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:none;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;font-weight:bold;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>
    </td>
    <td width="32%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:32.12%;">
    <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;text-autospace:none;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">55121</font></b></p>
    </td>
   </tr>
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    <td width="49%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:49.02%;">
    <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(Address of
    principal executive offices)</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="18%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:18.86%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="32%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:32.12%;">
    <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(Zip Code)</font></p>
    </td>
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  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Registrant&#146;s telephone number,
  including area code:&nbsp; <b>(612) 726-2111</b></font></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Registrant&#146;s Web site address:
  &nbsp;<b>www.nwa.com</b></font></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Check
  the appropriate box below if the Form&nbsp;8-K filing is intended to
  simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
  following provisions:</font></p>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Wingdings" style="font-size:10.0pt;">o</font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&#160; Written communications pursuant to Rule&nbsp;425
  under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)</font></p>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Wingdings" style="font-size:10.0pt;">o</font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&#160; Soliciting material pursuant to Rule&nbsp;14a-12
  under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)</font></p>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Wingdings" style="font-size:10.0pt;">o</font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&#160; Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule&nbsp;14d-2(b)&nbsp;under
  the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))</font></p>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Wingdings" style="font-size:10.0pt;">o</font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&#160; Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule&nbsp;13e-4(c)&nbsp;under
  the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))</font></p>
  
  <div style="border:none;border-bottom:double windowtext 6.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  
  <p style="border:none;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;padding:0in;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  </div>
  
  <div style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><hr size="3" width="100%" noshade color="#010101" align="left"></div>
  
  </div>
  <!-- SEQ.=1,FOLIO='',FILE='C:\JMS\kdefran\08-14696-1\task2946492\14696-1-ba.htm',USER='kdefran',CD='May 16 15:24 2008' -->
  
  
  <br clear="all" style="page-break-before:always;">
  
  
  <div>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt 99.0pt;text-autospace:ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;text-indent:-99.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt 1.0in;text-autospace:ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;text-indent:-1.0in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Item 5.02.</font><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Departure of Directors or Certain</font><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">
  Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensation
  Arrangements of Certain Officers.</font></p>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt 99.0pt;text-autospace:ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;text-indent:-99.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">On
  May&nbsp;13, 2008, Northwest Airlines,&nbsp;Inc. (&#147;Northwest&#148;), the principal
  operating subsidiary of Northwest Airlines Corporation (the &#147;Company&#148;), issued
  a press release announcing the departure of Neal S. Cohen as Executive Vice
  President &#151; Strategy&nbsp;&amp; International and Chief Executive Officer &#151;
  Regional Airlines effective June&nbsp;16, 2008.&#160;
  In connection with his departure, Mr.&nbsp;Cohen will receive the
  severance payments and benefits provided for in his existing management
  compensation agreement.&#160; Under the
  original terms of the previously granted restricted stock units and stock
  options held by Mr.&nbsp;Cohen (collectively, the &#147;Stock Awards&#148;), 50% of the
  unvested portion of the Stock Awards would vest upon termination of Mr.&nbsp;Cohen&#146;s
  employment and the remaining 50% would be canceled.&#160; In connection with Mr.&nbsp;Cohen&#146;s
  resignation, however, the Company agreed that, notwithstanding the termination
  of Mr.&nbsp;Cohen&#146;s employment, (i)&nbsp;the remaining unvested portion of the
  Stock Awards will continue to vest during Mr.&nbsp;Cohen&#146;s lifetime in equal
  installments on the vesting dates provided for under the original terms of the
  Stock Awards, (ii)&nbsp;Mr.&nbsp;Cohen&#146;s outstanding Stock Awards will vest
  automatically upon a change of control, and (iii)&nbsp;in the event the Company&#146;s
  pending merger with Delta Air Lines,&nbsp;Inc. is consummated, Mr.&nbsp;Cohen
  will have up to three years following the merger to exercise his outstanding
  stock options and if the merger agreement with Delta is terminated without the
  merger having occurred, he will have ninety (90) days after the termination of
  the merger agreement to exercise his vested stock options and ninety (90) days
  after the vesting of each remaining installment to exercise such stock options.
  All of the remaining terms and conditions of the Stock Awards will continue in
  effect as set forth in the award documentation pertaining to such Awards.</font></p>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">A
  copy of the press release is attached as Exhibit&nbsp;99 and is incorporated
  herein by reference.</font></p>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
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    <td width="12%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:12.32%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Item
    9.01(d).</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="7%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:7.76%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="79%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:79.92%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Exhibits</font></p>
    </td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
    <td width="12%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:12.32%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="7%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:7.76%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="79%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:79.92%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
    <td width="12%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:12.32%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Exhibit&nbsp;99.1</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="7%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:7.76%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="79%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:79.92%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Press
    Release dated May&nbsp;13, 2008.</font></p>
    </td>
   </tr>
  </table>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;text-autospace:ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">SIGNATURE</font></b></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;text-autospace:ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Pursuant
  to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has
  duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto
  duly authorized.</font></p>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <div align="center">
  
  <table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" style="border-collapse:collapse;width:100.0%;">
   <tr>
    <td width="49%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:49.0%;">
    <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;text-autospace:ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="51%" colspan="2" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:51.0%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">NORTHWEST
    AIRLINES CORPORATION</font></p>
    </td>
   </tr>
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    <td width="49%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:49.0%;">
    <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;text-autospace:ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
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    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">By:</font></p>
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    <td width="47%" valign="top" style="border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:47.78%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">/s/
    Michael L. Miller</font></p>
    </td>
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    <td width="47%" valign="top" style="border:none;padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:47.78%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Michael
    L. Miller</font></p>
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    <td width="47%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:47.78%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Vice
    President, Law and Secretary</font></p>
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  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Dated:&#160; May&nbsp;16, 2008</font></p>
  
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metadata_filer: {"company-data": {"conformed-name": "NORTHWEST AIRLINES CORP", "cik": "0001058033", "assigned-sic": "4512", "irs-number": "411905580", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "001-15285", "film-number": "08843367"}, "business-address": {"street1": "2700 LONE OAK PKWY", "city": "EAGAN", "state": "MN", "zip": "55121", "phone": "6127262111"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "5101 NORTHWEST DR", "city": "ST PAUL", "state": "MN", "zip": "55111-3034"}}
text: UNITED STATES
  SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
  WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
  FORM 8-K
  CURRENT REPORT
  Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
  Securities Exchange Act of 1934
  Date of report:
  May 16, 2008
  Date of earliest event
  reported:
  May 13, 2008
  NORTHWEST AIRLINES CORPORATION
  (Exact name of registrant as
  specified in its charter)
  Delaware
  0-23642
  41-1905580
  (State or
    other jurisdiction
  of incorporation)
  (Commission
    File Number)
  (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
  2700 Lone Oak Parkway
  Eagan, Minnesota
  55121
  (Address of
    principal executive offices)
  (Zip Code)
  Registrant's telephone number,
  including area code:
  (612) 726-2111
  Registrant's Web site address:
  www.nwa.com
  Check
  the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to
  simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
  following provisions:
  o
  Written communications pursuant to Rule 425
  under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
  o
  Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12
  under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
  o
  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under
  the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
  o
  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under
  the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
  Item 5.02.
  Departure of Directors or Certain
  Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensation
  Arrangements of Certain Officers.
  On
  May 13, 2008, Northwest Airlines, Inc. ("Northwest"), the principal
  operating subsidiary of Northwest Airlines Corporation (the "Company"), issued
  a press release announcing the departure of Neal S. Cohen as Executive Vice
  President — Strategy & International and Chief Executive Officer —
  Regional Airlines effective June 16, 2008. 
  In connection with his departure, Mr. Cohen will receive the
  severance payments and benefits provided for in his existing management
  compensation agreement.  Under the
  original terms of the previously granted restricted stock units and stock
  options held by Mr. Cohen (collectively, the "Stock Awards"), 50% of the
  unvested portion of the Stock Awards would vest upon termination of Mr. Cohen's
  employment and the remaining 50% would be canceled.  In connection with Mr. Cohen's
  resignation, however, the Company agreed that, notwithstanding the termination
  of Mr. Cohen's employment, (i) the remaining unvested portion of the
  Stock Awards will continue to vest during Mr. Cohen's lifetime in equal
  installments on the vesting dates provided for under the original terms of the
  Stock Awards, (ii) Mr. Cohen's outstanding Stock Awards will vest
  automatically upon a change of control, and (iii) in the event the Company's
  pending merger with Delta Air Lines, Inc. is consummated, Mr. Cohen
  will have up to three years following the merger to exercise his outstanding
  stock options and if the merger agreement with Delta is terminated without the
  merger having occurred, he will have ninety (90) days after the termination of
  the merger agreement to exercise his vested stock options and ninety (90) days
  after the vesting of each remaining installment to exercise such stock options.
  All of the remaining terms and conditions of the Stock Awards will continue in
  effect as set forth in the award documentation pertaining to such Awards.
  A
  copy of the press release is attached as Exhibit 99 and is incorporated
  herein by reference.
  Item
    9.01(d).
  Exhibits
  Exhibit 99.1
  Press
    Release dated May 13, 2008.
  SIGNATURE
  Pursuant
  to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has
  duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto
  duly authorized.
  NORTHWEST
    AIRLINES CORPORATION
  By:
  /s/
    Michael L. Miller
  Michael
    L. Miller
  Vice
    President, Law and Secretary
  Dated:  May 16, 2008