An aircraft maintenance base in Duluth — closed by Northwest Airlines in 2005 — may be brought back to life by a private group, reports the Duluth News Tribune.

A group with aviation experience would like to reopen the base to service Airbus A320 jets. The 189,000-square-foot maintenance base opened in 1996 and, after being closed by Northwest nearly four years ago, is now owned by the Duluth Economic Development Authority. Cirrus Design Corp., already uses part of the space to develop a personal jet.

The new group, Northern Aero Partners, would like to employ former Northwest mechanics who have stayed in the area after the air base closed.

The group sees a growing market, because the first A320 jets are now turning 20 years old and require heavier maintenance. High fuel costs also could make maintenance in Duluth an attractive option to sending airplanes offshore for service.