Bankrupt Northwest Airlines is in talks to buy Mesaba Airlines, one of its regional carriers, Northwest said on Friday.

Northwest said it has discussed co-sponsoring Mesaba's reorganization plan, a move that would allow Northwest to take over Mesaba in a principally non-cash deal. Mesaba is a unit of Mair Holdings.

"Northwest is working with Mesaba to conclude a more definitive agreement," Northwest said in a statement.

Mesaba filed for Chapter 11 in October 2005, squeezed by the bankruptcy of Northwest.