After he left us in 1976, departed the earthly bonds as some would call it
His airline now has new blood in Delta. Here's how it went.
North Central merged with Southern Airways in 1979, and formed Republic Airlines.
1980 Republic purchased Hughes Airwest for roughly 884 Mil. becoming at the time, the Nations truly coast to coast largest National carrier.
1986 Northwest purchased Republic Airlines.
2008 Northwest merged with Delta, and remained with their Northwest name until 2010 when at which time Delta fully intergrated Northwest.
So it is sad to say Howard Hughes is gone, however his airline has roots in Delta and always will. Now the real question that puzzles me is which direction is Delta headed, and taking HH to on his next voyage