Northwest Airlines CEO says flights will still operate if employees strike

Airline Industry Information, June 28, 2005

AIRLINE INDUSTRY INFORMATION-(C)1997-2005 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD

The chief executive of Northwest Airlines, Doug Steenland, has said that the airline will continue flying in the event of a strike by its employees.

The company is struggling to reach an agreement with its mechanics, although the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) has now said that it will consider wage cuts.

The union has offered cuts worth an estimated USD143.5m, while the airline has said that it needs USD176m of savings from the mechanics. In response to the AMFA proposal Northwest Airlines said that it was disappointed and that the offer falls short of the savings required.

On Monday Steenland pledged that if a strike is launched the carrier would "maintain the reliability" of its schedule, noting that the company had made contingency plans.

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