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Old 08-09-2005, 08:04 AM
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RockBottom
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Thumbs down NWA eyes Champion to help break strike

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The Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal - 1:39 PM CDT Monday

NWA eyes charter line as strike contingency

Northwest Airlines Corp. is considering using a local charter carrier to fly some Northwest flights if its mechanics go on strike, according to media reports.

A spokesman for Bloomington-based Champion Air said the carrier has had discussions with Northwest about operating contingency flights, but no decision had been made.

A Northwest spokesman confirmed that the Eagan-based carrier is considering a variety of resources in case of a strike, including partnering with Champion.

Northwest's pilot union said an arrangement for the airline to use Champion planes and pilots would violate the union's contract with Northwest. The union said its contract allows Northwest to use Champion for charter flight, while any scheduled service flights would have to be flown by Northwest's pilots.

Members of Northwest's mechanics union voted last month to authorize a strike, which could begin as soon as a 30-day cooling-off period ends at 11:01 p.m. on Aug. 19.

Northwest (Nasdaq: NWAC), which has said it needs to reduce labor costs by at least $1.1 billion to avert bankruptcy, has asked the mechanics union to accept job and pay cuts.
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