<PAGE>
                             WARRANT

                    To Purchase Common Stock
                               of
                      Mesaba Holdings, Inc.



     This warrant, dated as of April 1, 1998, certifies that for value
received Northwest Airlines, Inc., a Minnesota corporation ("Northwest"),
or permitted assigns, is entitled to purchase from Mesaba Holdings, Inc., a
Minnesota corporation (the "Company"), 316,128 shares (subject to
adjustment as herein provided) of common stock of the Company (herein
referred to as the "Common Shares") at the price determined as provided
herein, and in all respects subject to the terms contained herein.

     This Warrant has been issued to Northwest in consideration of an
amendment, dated April 1, 1998 to that certain Regional Jet Services
Agreement dated as of October 25, 1996 between Northwest, the Company and
Mesaba Aviation, Inc.  (the "Jetlink Agreement").

     This Warrant is subject to the following provisions, terms, and
conditions:

     2.   The exercise price is $31.875 per share, subject to adjustment as
hereinafter provided (the "Exercise Price").

     3.   This Warrant shall become exercisable in installments
cumulatively with respect to 1/6th of the Common Shares, as adjusted
(initially 52,688 shares), on each date on which an Additional Aircraft
enters scheduled passenger service under the Jetlink Agreement.  As used
herein, Additional Aircraft means the thirteenth through eighteenth RJ 85
aircraft to enter service under the Jetlink Agreement.  This Warrant will
expire at 5:00 p.m. Minneapolis time, on October 25, 2006, unless terminated
earlier pursuant to the terms hereof.  Subject to the last sentence of this
Section 2, the rights represented by this Warrant may be exercised by
Northwest, in whole or in part, by written notice of exercise delivered to
the Company accompanied by the surrender of this Warrant (properly endorsed
if required) at the principal office of the Company together with payment by
check payable in Minneapolis Clearing House funds to the order of the
Company of the purchase price for such shares.  The Company agrees that the
shares so purchased shall be deemed to be issued as of the close of business
on the date on which this Warrant shall have been surrendered and payment
made for such shares as aforesaid.  Certificates for the Common Shares so
purchased shall be delivered to Northwest as soon as practicable after the
purchase rights represented by this Warrant shall have been so exercised.
This Warrant may not be exercised in part for the purchase of any number of
Common Shares less than 50,000, unless such number represents the total
number of Common Shares then remaining subject to purchase pursuant to this
Warrant.

    4.   The Company covenants and agrees that all Common Shares issued upon
the exercise of the purchase rights represented by this Warrant will, upon
issuance, be validly issued, fully paid,



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nonassessable, and free from all taxes, liens and charges with respect to
the issue thereof.  The Company further covenants and agrees that until the
expiration of this Warrant it will at all times have authorized and
reserved for the purpose of issue or transfer upon exercise of the purchase
rights evidenced by this Warrant a sufficient number of shares of its
common stock to provide for the exercise of the purchase rights represented
by this Warrant.

     5.   This Warrant shall not be transferable or assignable by Northwest
and may be exercised only by Northwest; provided, however, that Northwest
may transfer or assign this Warrant to any affiliate (as such term is
defined in Rule 405 promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended) of Northwest and any successor corporation (or other entity)
resulting from its merger, consolidation, or other reorganization or the
sale of all or substantially all of its assets.

     6.   In case the Company shall declare a stock dividend or other
distribution upon its common stock payable in common stock of the Company,
then the total maximum number of Common Shares issuable upon the exercise
of this Warrant shall be increased by an amount equal to the number of
shares of common stock which would have been issued to Northwest as a
result of the issuance of such dividend or other distribution if,
immediately prior to the record date relating to such dividend or other
distribution, Northwest had exercised its purchase rights under this
Warrant with respect to the total number of Common Shares then remaining
subject to purchase.  The Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to
such dividend or other distribution shall be proportionately reduced.

     7.   In case the Company shall at any time subdivide or split its
outstanding shares of common stock into a greater number of shares, the
Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to such subdivision or split
shall be proportionately reduced, and conversely, in case the outstanding
shares of common stock of the Company shall be combined into a smaller
number of shares, the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to such
combination shall be proportionately increased.  Upon each adjustment of
the Exercise Price pursuant to this Section 6, Northwest shall thereafter
be entitled to purchase, at the then applicable Exercise Price, the number
of shares obtained by multiplying the Exercise Price in effect immediately
prior to such adjustment by the number of shares purchasable pursuant
hereto immediately prior to such adjustment and dividing the product
thereof by the applicable Exercise Price resulting from such adjustment.

     8.   If any capital reorganization or reclassification of the capital
stock of the Company or consolidation or merger of the Company with another
corporation, or the sale of all or substantially all of its assets to
another corporation shall be effected in such a way that holders of shares
of common stock of the Company shall be entitled to receive stock,
securities or assets with respect to or in exchange for common stock, then,
as a condition of such reorganization, reclassification, consolidation,
merger or sale, lawful and adequate provision shall be made whereby
Northwest shall thereafter have the right to receive upon the basis and
upon the terms and conditions specified in this Warrant and in lieu of the
Common Shares of the Company immediately theretofore receivable upon the
exercise of this Warrant, such shares of stock, securities or assets as may
be issued or payable with respect to or in exchange for a number of

                                
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outstanding shares of common stock of the Company equal to the number of
Common Shares immediately theretofore receivable upon the exercise of this
Warrant had such reorganization, reclassification, consolidation, merger or
sale not taken place, and in any such case appropriate provision shall be
made with respect to the rights and interests of Northwest to the end that
the provisions hereof (including without limitation provision for
adjustments of the then applicable Exercise Price and of the number of
shares or other kinds of securities or other property receivable upon the
exercise of this Warrant) shall thereafter be applicable, as nearly as may
be, in relation to any shares of stock, securities or assets thereafter
receivable upon the exercise of this Warrant.  The Company shall not effect
any such consolidation, merger or sale, unless, prior to the consummation
thereof, the surviving corporation (if other than the Company) resulting
from such consolidation or merger or the corporation purchasing such assets
shall assume by written instrument executed and mailed to Northwest at the
last address of Northwest appearing on the books of the Company, the
obligation to deliver to Northwest such shares of stock, securities or
assets as, in accordance with the foregoing provisions, Northwest may be
entitled to receive.

     9.   Upon any adjustment of the Exercise Price or the number of Common
Shares or other kinds of securities or other property receivable upon
exercise of this Warrant, then and in each case the Company shall give
written notice thereof, by first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed to
Northwest at the address as shown on the books of the Company, which notice
shall state the then applicable Exercise Price resulting from such
adjustment, and the increase or decrease, if any, in the number of Common
Shares or other kinds of securities or other property receivable upon
exercise of this Warrant, setting forth in reasonable detail the method of
calculation and the facts upon which such calculation is based.

     10.  In case any time:

          (i)  the Company shall pay or make any stock dividend or other
     distribution payable in stock upon its common stock or make any
     distribution (other than regular cash dividends) to the holders of its
     common stock;

          (ii) the Company shall offer for subscription pro rata to the
     holders of its common stock any additional shares of stock of any
     class or other rights;

          (iii)     there shall be any capital reorganization,
     reclassification of the capital stock of the Company, or consolidation
     or merger of the corporation with, or sale of all or substantially all
     of its assets to, another corporation; or

          (iv) there shall be a voluntary or involuntary dissolution,
     liquidation or winding up of the Company;

then, in any one or more of said cases, at least 21 days prior to the
applicable date specified below, the Company shall give written notice, by
first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed to Northwest at the address as
shown on the books of the Company, of the date on which (aa) the books of
the Company shall close or a record shall be taken for such stock dividend,


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distribution or subscription rights, or (bb) such reorganization,
reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, dissolution, liquidation or
winding up shall take place, as the case may be.  Such notice shall also
specify the date as of which the holders of common stock of record shall
participate in such dividend, distribution or subscription rights, or shall
be entitled to exchange their shares of common stock for securities or
other property deliverable upon such reorganization, reclassification,
consolidation, merger, sale, dissolution, liquidation or winding up, as the
case may be.  Failure to give such notice or any defect therein shall not
affect the legality or validity of any such proceeding or transaction and
shall not affect the right of the holder to participate in any said
dividend, distribution, subscription or exchange.

     11.  Any transfer of this Warrant permitted by Section 4 hereof may be
effected at the principal office of the Company by a duly authorized
officer or attorney of Northwest, upon surrender of this Warrant properly
endorsed.  Northwest and each permitted transferee consents and agrees that
Northwest may be treated by the Company and all other persons dealing with
this Warrant as the absolute owner hereof for any purpose and as the person
entitled to exercise the rights represented by this Warrant, or to the
transfer hereof on the books of the Company, in the absence of any actual
written notice to the contrary.

     12.  This Warrant is exchangeable upon the surrender hereof by
Northwest at the principal office of the Company for new Warrants of like
tenor representing in the aggregate the right to subscribe for and purchase
the number of Common Shares which may be subscribed for and purchased
hereunder.

     13.  Notwithstanding any other provisions set forth in this Warrant to
the contrary, the rights of Northwest granted in this Warrant shall
terminate (i) immediately upon the termination of the Jetlink Agreement, if
the Jetlink Agreement is terminated by Northwest or (ii) 30 days after
Northwest's receipt of notice from the Company of the Company's termination
of the Jetlink Agreement, if the Jetlink Agreement is terminated as the
result of such notice.

     14.  Neither this Warrant nor any term hereof may be changed, waived,
discharged or terminated orally but only by an instrument in writing signed
by the party against which enforcement of the change, waiver, discharge or
termination is sought.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Warrant to be signed
by its duly authorized officer this 1st day of April, 1998.

                               MESABA HOLDINGS, INC.


                               By: 
                                   --------------------
                                   Bryan K. Bedford
                                   Its President and Chief
                                   Executive Officer




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<PAGE>

                           ELECTION TO PURCHASE

                 (To be executed by the registered holder
              if such holder desires to exercise the Warrant.)


TO:  Mesaba Holdings, Inc.

     The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise this Warrant  to

the extent of ______________ Common  Shares and requests that  certificates

for such shares be issued, and any payment in lieu of fractional shares  be

made, in the name of:



____________________________________________________________________________
(Print name,  address  and  social security  or  other  tax  identification
number)

Dated:______________,____

                                   ______________________________ 
                                   Signature

                                   (Signature must conform in all
                                   respects to name of holder  as
                                   specified on the face of  this
                                   Warrant.)

























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                            FORM OF ASSIGNMENT

                 (To be executed by the registered holder
             if such holder desires to transfer the Warrant.)


     FOR VALUE RECEIVED,                                         

hereby sells, assigns and transfers unto                         

___________________________________________________________________________
             (Print name and address of transferee)

this Warrant, together with all right, title and interest therein, and does

hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint_________________________________ 

Attorney, to transfer the within Warrant on the books of the Company,  with
full power of substitution.

Dated:______________,____

                                   ______________________________ 
                                   Signature

                                   (Signature must conform in all
                                   respects to name of holder  as
                                   specified on the face of  this
                                   Warrant.)


























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