Northwest Airlines Reduces Winter Fares as Much as 35%

Northwest Airlines said it has cut winter fares by up to 35% for travel between 22 cities and all other U.S. markets it serves.

The airline said it traditionally reduces prices in the fall to build business in weak markets.

The lower-priced fares are available for purchase through Thursday only and can be used for travel through Feb. 25. They must be bought 14 days prior to travel.

As an example, passengers can travel round-trip between New York and Los Angeles for $330, 34% off the previous 14-day advance purchase ticket of $500.

The 22 markets included in the fare reduction are Los Angeles, San Diego, New York, Baltimore, Washington, Phoenix, Salt Lake City; Orlando, Tampa and Ft. Walton Beach, Fla.; Syracuse and Rochester, N.Y.; Knoxville, Tenn.; Tucson, Ariz.; Richmond and Norfolk, Va.; Birmingham, Ala.; Baton Rouge, La., and Little Rock, Ark.

Travel is not available under the promotion for Nov. 25, 29 and 30; Dec. 18, 19, 22, 23, and 26 to 28, and Jan. 2 and 3.

Among other restrictions, passengers must stay at their destination over a Saturday night.

Northwest spokesman Doug Miller said the nation’s fourth-largest airline doesn’t expect the limited fare reductions to result in a fare war like the one that devastated the industry over the summer.

“This is intended to be a targeted fare promotion to generate additional bookings in specific local markets,” he said. “It is not the airline’s intent to have this become a sweeping, nationwide fare war.”

Major airlines typically match competitors’ ticket-price cuts.