Northwest’s Loss Grows on Restructuring Costs

Northwest Airlines Corp. posted a wider-than-expected second-quarter loss but said that excluding costs related to its reorganization, it saw a profit.

The Eagan, Minn.-based carrier, which filed for bankruptcy protection in September, said its quarterly loss was $285 million, or $3.27 a share, compared with a loss of $234 million, or $2.69, a year earlier.

Excluding items related to its reorganization, Northwest said it earned $179 million.

That profit compares with a loss of $288 million, excluding unusual items, a year earlier.

The carrier said its operating revenue rose 3% to $3.3 billion.