NEWS ABOUT: Northwest Airlines
Northwest Airlines stories: 30 news briefs
ANALYSIS
Recent changes haven't helped 'legacy' carriers
Wall Street Journal Apr 7, 09 8:52 AM CDT
(Newser Summary) -
Despite many rounds of cost-cutting, so-called legacy airlines—United, Delta, US Airways—still face costs 35% higher than low-fare carriers like JetBlue and Southwest, the Wall Street Journal reports. The younger outfits have maintained a “cost gap” analysts thought their older peers could close over time. For one thing, having more top-scale workers keeps aging carriers at a disadvantage. “Even if the scale is the same, the cockpit costs are different,” says US Air’s CEO.
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Passengers cheer as Boston-bound flight gets an extra passenger
Boston Herald Jan 1, 09 7:48 AM CST
(Newser Summary) -
Passengers on a Boston-bound plane from Amsterdam got a New Year's surprise when a woman on board went into labor, the Boston Herald reports. Two doctors on the flight informed the pilot that the baby would come before the aircraft could make an emergency landing. Passengers cheered after the woman delivered a baby girl.
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Merger would create world's largest airline
Reuters Oct 29, 08 2:49 PM CDT
(Newser Summary) -
Delta’s $2.6 billion offer to buy Northwest Airlines has passed the scrutiny of federal antitrust regulators. Ensuing labor issues aside, official say the merger—which creates the world’s most patronized airline—would not "substantially lessen competition" and will benefit customers, Reuters reports.
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Baghdad pup en route to savior soldier's home
North Country Gazette Oct 21, 08 3:10 AM CDT
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The friendly black mutt credited with helping a soldier survive her tour of duty in Iraq stepped out of a crate, tail wagging, as he arrived in the US yesterday following an international battle over his refugee status. Ratchet was rescued from burning trash in Iraq by soldier Gwen Beberg. Military regulations prevented her from sending Ratchet home—until the SPCA intervened and some 70,000 people signed an online petition, reports the North Country Gazette.
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Army allows Minnesota soldier to keep rescued dog
CNN Oct 20, 08 3:18 AM CDT
(Newser Summary) -
A dog rescued from almost certain death by soldiers in Baghdad will be reunited with the US Army sergeant who adopted him. Military regulations had prevented Sgt. Gwen Beberg, 28, from sending the dog, Ratchet, to the US, but yesterday the SPCA was allowed to fly Ratchet to Kuwait on the first leg of the pooch's journey to Beberg's home in Minnesota.
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Deal awaits approval from antitrust regulators
Atlanta Journal-Constitution Sep 25, 08 2:45 PM CDT
(Newser Summary) -
Shareholders of Delta and Northwest voted nearly unanimously today to approve the airlines' merger, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. With shareholders in agreement, federal antitrust regulators must now approve the deal. A Justice Department decision is expected late this year, but labor issues remain. Dozens of workers protested today outside the Northwest shareholders’ meeting in New York, shouting, “What do we want? No merger!”
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Talks with US Airways on permanent hold
New York Times May 28, 08 3:20 AM CDT
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A proposed merger between United Airlines and rival US Airways has collapsed, just a month after a deal between United and Continental fell apart. Some analysts predicted the rising cost of jet fuel would power merger deals, but the failed negotiations have raised serious questions about the success of future consolidation in the airline industry, reports the New York Times .
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Airlines save millions by adding extra minutes to flights
Associated Press May 3, 08 12:30 PM CDT
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As airlines feel the pain of higher energy prices, planes are slowing down to save fuel, the AP reports. Southwest, for instance, will save $42 million by adding a few minutes to each flight this year, and passengers are unlikely to notice. But it’s no cure-all: Labor costs go up with flight time, and going too slowly actually increases fuel costs.
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Dems skeptical, see 'cascade' of deals
Associated Press Apr 24, 08 3:51 PM CDT
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The CEOs of Delta and Northwest took their case for a merger to Capitol Hill today, where they argued that they would be better equipped to deal with surging gas prices as a single company. Both businesses had big first-quarter losses, and the executives told lawmakers they’d be better competition for foreign airlines as a team, the AP reports.
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Delta-Northwest deal likely to spark more consolidation
Houston Chronicle Apr 15, 08 4:11 AM CDT
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The Delta-Northwest merger will create the world's biggest airline—but that title could fall before the ink is even dry on the deal as industry pressures force other carriers into shotgun weddings, the Houston Chronicle reports. Analysts believe United and Continental would be a good match and a deal between the two is widely expected, possibly in a matter of weeks.
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UPDATED
Execs forging ahead without pilot approval
New York Times Apr 14, 08 7:17 PM CDT
(Newser Summary) -
Delta and Northwest Airlines execs agreed today to merge their companies into the world's largest airline, the New York Times reports. Delta CEO Richard Anderson will lead the new company, called Delta, if Northwest shareholders approve the transaction. The $3.1 billion deal would give Northwest shareholders 1.25 Delta shares for each outstanding Northwest share, a 17% premium from Monday's closing prices.
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But pilot dispute could put deal on the skids
Wall Street Journal Apr 13, 08 3:40 PM CDT
(Newser Summary) -
Delta and Northwest Airlines are readying a merger that could be announced as soon as Tuesday, reports the Wall Street Journal . But disputes over the deal’s financial terms and handling of pilot seniority threaten to scuttle the union. Negotiations between the two carriers broke down last week but were revived this weekend with the hope of reaching an agreement by tomorrow.
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NW deal would create world largest carrier
Bloomberg Apr 10, 08 10:21 PM CDT
(Newser Summary) -
Delta Air Lines has reached a deal with its 7,000 pilots that is expected to allow a long-delayed merger with Northwest Airlines to take off, Bloomberg reports. The airlines plan to announce the merger next week, sources said. The new airline would carry the Delta name and jet past American Airlines to become the world's largest carrier.
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Soaring fuel prices mean airline fees, shakeups here to stay
MarketWatch Apr 8, 08 6:03 AM CDT
(Newser Summary) -
The days of discounts and perks on major US airlines have disappeared from the horizon, possibly forever, Marketwatch writes. The stratospheric fuel prices that caused three airlines to shut down last week alone are forcing airlines to boost their bottom lines any way they can. Capacity is being cut back and charges for things like second bags are spreading through the industry.
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Skies unfriendlier than ever
Associated Press Apr 7, 08 3:45 AM CDT
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Airline passengers on domestic flights are unhappier than they've been in years, with consumer complaints up 60%, according to the annual Airline Quality Rating survey. Long delays, cancellations, overbooking, late arrivals, and lost baggage accounted for most of the complaints, which haven't been this bad since 2000, reports the AP. Complaints doubled on US Airways and Comair, and increased for 15 out of 16 carriers in the study. The sole exception was Mesa Airlines.
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Big carriers scurry to boost bottom line as small airlines go bust
Wall Street Journal Apr 4, 08 2:38 AM CDT
(Newser Summary) -
Northwest Airlines is jacking up fares and fees and scaling back domestic operations, the Wall Street Journal reports. The airline, trying to deal with soaring fuel costs and a slowing economy without instituting pay cuts, also plans to freeze hiring. Northwest will keep adding international flights, but will add fuel surcharges as high as $160.
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Dispute over seniority scotched initial merger agreement
Wall Street Journal Mar 28, 08 4:41 PM CDT
(Newser Summary) -
Northwest is trying to resuscitate the Delta merger that nearly went through in February with a deal that wouldn’t need pilot agreements or include anticipated salary increases, the Wall Street Journal reports. The pilots' inability to agree on seniority rules appeared to derail the deal, which didn't require labor agreements; both parties want it fast-tracked so the Bush Justice Department staffers will still be in a position to vet it.
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Major US carriers downgrade as hard times loom
Christian Science Monitor Mar 20, 08 4:02 AM CDT
(Newser Summary) -
America's major airlines are getting ready for tougher times ahead, slashing jobs and cutting back operations. As the Christian Science Monitor reports, soaring fuel prices will inevitably lead to higher ticket prices, which will lead to less passengers—which, in turn, will force airlines to hike fares again to cover flying costs. "The party's over, particularly for leisure travelers," one industry analyst said.
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Firm will offer voluntary severance to 30,000 employees
Atlanta Journal-Constitution Mar 18, 08 2:02 PM CDT
(Newser Summary) -
Battered by skyrocketing fuel prices, Delta Air Lines will eliminate 2,000 jobs to cut costs, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. With oil prices driving the airline’s fuel expenditures $900 million higher than expected, the carrier will offer buyouts to some 30,000 employees, aiming to cut 1,300 flight attendant and agent positions in addition to 700 administrative jobs, mostly through voluntary severance and hiring freezes.
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Critical seniority issue could be a deal buster
Minneapolis Star Tribune Mar 18, 08 9:55 AM CDT
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Merger talks between Delta and Northwest appear to be headed for a hard landing after pilots for the carriers called off their own negotiations over seniority issues, reports the Minneapolis Star Tribune. The airlines boards will meet this week to decide whether the merger should go forward, but Delta's CEO is on record saying it hinges on the pilots' agreement.
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