NWA Northwest Airline

The Airline Pilots Association (ALPA) today ratified an agreement with Northwest Airlines (NYSE:NWA) on contract issues and work rules that will help improve the airline's operational performance and reliability. The vote by the Northwest ALPA Master Executive Council (MEC) confirms a tentative agreement reached August 1, 2007. "We're pleased that the MEC has agreed to this important step that will help Northwest Airlines return to its historical status as one of industry's most reliable airlines," said Doug Steenland, Northwest Airlines president and chief executive officer. "We look forward to continuing to collaborate with our pilots and their representatives to drive operational improvements and better serve Northwest's customers. We know we have to earn our customers' business and trust every day, and we are confident that this agreement, combined with other steps we are aggressively implementing, will help us achieve that." As previously announced, the agreement ratified today implements contractual changes on work rules pertaining to international flying, as well as the settlement of an outstanding grievance, in exchange for the reinstatement of premium pay of 50 percent for all pilots flying more than 80 hours a month, effective Aug. 1, 2007. The agreement is economically neutral, with the cost to Northwest of the premium-pay element offset by the value of the work-rule changes and grievance settlement. Northwest wants to continue discussions with each of its unions to explore cost-neutral ways to improve employees' work environment, and the airline also has established a Summer Reliability Incentive Program under which all contract employees, including pilots, will receive incentive pay equal to 15 percent of eligible earnings, up to $1,000, for achieving appropriate attendance standards from Aug. 4 through Sept. 3, 2007, inclusive. Northwest Airlines is one of the world's largest airlines with hubs at Detroit, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Memphis, Tokyo and Amsterdam, and approximately 1,400 daily departures. Northwest is a member of SkyTeam, an airline alliance that offers customers one of the world's most extensive global networks. Northwest and its travel partners serve more than 1,000 cities in excess of 160 countries on six continents. The Airline Pilots Association (ALPA) today ratified an agreement with Northwest Airlines (NYSE:NWA) on contract issues and work rules that will help improve the airline�s operational performance and reliability. The vote by the Northwest ALPA Master Executive Council (MEC) confirms a tentative agreement reached August 1, 2007. �We�re pleased that the MEC has agreed to this important step that will help Northwest Airlines return to its historical status as one of industry�s most reliable airlines,� said Doug Steenland, Northwest Airlines president and chief executive officer. �We look forward to continuing to collaborate with our pilots and their representatives to drive operational improvements and better serve Northwest�s customers. We know we have to earn our customers� business and trust every day, and we are confident that this agreement, combined with other steps we are aggressively implementing, will help us achieve that.� As previously announced, the agreement ratified today implements contractual changes on work rules pertaining to international flying, as well as the settlement of an outstanding grievance, in exchange for the reinstatement of premium pay of 50 percent for all pilots flying more than 80 hours a month, effective Aug. 1, 2007. The agreement is economically neutral, with the cost to Northwest of the premium-pay element offset by the value of the work-rule changes and grievance settlement. Northwest wants to continue discussions with each of its unions to explore cost-neutral ways to improve employees� work environment, and the airline also has established a Summer Reliability Incentive Program under which all contract employees, including pilots, will receive incentive pay equal to 15 percent of eligible earnings, up to $1,000, for achieving appropriate attendance standards from Aug. 4 through Sept. 3, 2007, inclusive. Northwest Airlines is one of the world�s largest airlines with hubs at Detroit, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Memphis, Tokyo and Amsterdam, and approximately 1,400 daily departures. Northwest is a member of SkyTeam, an airline alliance that offers customers one of the world�s most extensive global networks. Northwest and its travel partners serve more than 1,000 cities in excess of 160 countries on six continents.