Northwest Seeks NYSE Listing

Northwest Airlines (NWACQ Quote - Cramer on NWACQ - Stock Picks) wants to return to the New York Stock Exchange when it emerges from bankruptcy next month.

The carrier said Monday it has filed with the exchange to list its common stock in June. Subject to approval, Northwest would be traded under the symbol "NWA."

"We are pleased to welcome Northwest Airlines, one of the world's leading airline carriers, to the New York Stock Exchange," said NYSE Euronext CEO John Thain, in a prepared statement. "We look forward to a long, productive relationship with the company and its shareholders."

Northwest would follow Delta(DAL Quote - Cramer on DAL - Stock Picks), which relisted on the Big Board last week following its emergence from Chapter 11. The two carriers both filed for protection from their creditors on Sept. 14, 2005.

Among major airlines, Nasdaq will list just two, United(UAUA Quote - Cramer on UAUA - Stock Picks) and JetBlue(JBLU Quote - Cramer on JBLU - Stock Picks).

Northwest was traded on the NYSE under the "NWA" symbol from 1941 to 1989, when it was taken private. It went public again in 1994, and was traded on Nasdaq as "NWAC" until the bankruptcy.

Northwest said its existing common and preferred shares will be cancelled when the bankruptcy court approves its plan of reorganization, paving the way for the company to issue new stock.