In building Northwest Airlines into an industry leader, he ran a tight operation focused on safety and the bottom line.
By NEAL ST. ANTHONY, Star Tribune
Donald Nyrop, who led Northwest Airlines for a quarter century and built it from a safety-challenged regional airline into a globe-spanning carrier focused on safety and frugality, died Tuesday at age 98.
Northwest was known for profitability after Nyrop became chief executive in 1954, even as other carriers faltered as the industry moved from a highly regulated, government-protected era into the early years of deregulation toward the end of his watch.
"Our father's commitment to Northwest Airlines, its employees and customers was unparalleled," daughter Nancy Nyrop Scherer said. "He was always extremely proud of the contributions the Northwest Airlines team made to the state of Minnesota."
The family said arrangements are pending.
Nyrop was known publicly as a tightfisted executive who ran one of the best-run carriers in the country, while employing thousands of Minnesotans. But while warring at times with Northwest's unions, he was proud that despite several pilot and mechanic strikes, unionized workers never took a pay cut on his watch.
The former government lawyer scrimped on what he considered frills, operating from a bare-bones, near-windowless headquarters at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.
But he didn't scrimp on safety.
"He was an industry giant and he turned around Northwest Airlines," said Brent Baskfield, a retired NWA executive. "I got there at the tail end of his leadership. One thing he did to save money was standardization. Every airplane had Pratt & Whitney engines, and the exteriors of the airplanes were not painted to save weight -- just polished aluminum -- other than the NWA markings. And the interiors were all standard. His safety record was phenomenal. He was very tough but he also was a gentleman."
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