Northwest plans to cut 2,500 jobs
From Times Wire Services
Northwest Airlines Corp., which has agreed to combine with Delta Air Lines Inc., will eliminate 2,500 jobs to counter record fuel costs.
The reductions represent about 8.1% of the 31,000-person workforce at Eagan, Minn.-based Northwest, which said it would rely first on voluntary steps such as leaves to pare the number of dismissals.
Northwest’s move will boost industrywide job cuts to about 20,000 as U.S. carriers park 400 jets after an 86% surge in the price of jet fuel in the last year.
Airline losses may top $13 billion in 2008, the Air Transport Assn. trade group estimates.
