P.M. BRIEFING : Airline Plans Major Overhaul

Northwest Airlines said today it will spend $422 million over the next five years to try to bring more flights in on time, improve in-flight food and redecorate its 300 planes.

Northwest President Fred Malek said Northwest, the country’s fourth-largest airline, wants to become the first choice of more travelers by 1995.

Malek did not divulge results of market surveys on how Northwest fares among competitors currently, but said the results were “not too good.”

The plan includes spending $100 million to serve more meals and add choices to the standard fare. About an equal amount will be spent to step up maintenance capability and increase spare parts inventories, cutting down on delays due to mechanical problems, Malek said.