Head of Northwest says more cost-cutting ahead MINNEAPOLIS (AP) =97 The head of Northwest Airlines, which has cut $1.1=20 billion in fixed costs since early 2001, said Friday that more cost-cutting= =20 is ahead as the industry continues to battle a slow economy and lower=20 passenger traffic. Chief Executive Richard Anderson, speaking in Florida at an industry=20 conference that was broadcast over the Internet, said he expects capacity=20 to remain flat in 2003. Anderson had previously forecast a 3% increase in=20 capacity in 2003. As a result Northwest will seek savings from suppliers=20 and airport authorities at its hubs in Minneapolis and Detroit. The goal is= =20 to lower the airline's cost per available seat mile, or CASM, a=20 closely-watched measurement in the industry. "I think the market is moving= =20 in our favor in terms of aircraft," said Anderson, mentioning that=20 Northwest is currently negotiating with plane manufacturer Airbus. "It will= =20 be reflected in our deals one way or another. There'll be a lot of pressure= =20 on all the suppliers." The Eagan-based carrier does business with three airplane companies =97=20 Boeing, Airbus and Bombardier, which makes Canadair Regional Jets. Its=20 engine suppliers are General Electric and Pratt & Whitney. Northwest has=20 said it will receive 53 new airplanes in 2003, including 16 narrow-bodied=20 A319 and A320 aircraft and six A330s from Airbus; 22 Canadair Regional Jets= =20 and nine Boeing 757-300s. But the airline's current plan to take delivery=20 on 47 new planes in 2004 is being "re- evaluated," Anderson said. Northwest= =20 already has approached the Metropolitan Airports Commission in Minneapolis= =20 about holding 2003 spending at this year's level. The MAC has said it may=20 have heat the airport less in winter and use less air conditioning in=20 summer, close the new Humphrey Terminal during the low-travel months from=20 May to October and lay off employees. "We're continually looking for ways=20 to further reduce our costs," said spokeswoman Mary Beth Schubert. "At this time, we do not anticipate any significant layoffs beyond what has= =20 been announced in recent weeks," she added. Northwest announced last month that it will close its Atlanta maintenance=20 center, a reservations center in Long Beach, Calif., and some ticket=20 offices, resulting in the layoff or transfer of nearly 2,000 employees to=20 bring its worldwide employment to about 43,000, down from its peak of about= =20 55,000. Northwest Airlines also said Friday it will begin charging=20 customers who check bags weighing between 50 and 70 pounds. The $25 fee=20 takes effect Dec. 15. However, Northwest is lowering to $50 its current fee= =20 of $80 for bags weighing 70 to 100 pounds and will no longer accept bags=20 weighing more than 100 pounds. The owner of Roger's Trinbago Site: Roj (Roger James) *************************************************** escape email mailto:ejames@escape.ca Trinbago site: http://www.tntisland.com CBC Website http://www.tntisland.com/caribbeanbrassconnection/ The Trinbago Site of the Week: (chgdev) http://www.chagdev.com/ (Chaguaramas Development Authority) courtesy of Roj Trinbago Website & TnT Web Directory Roj's Trinbago Website: http://www.tntisland.com TnT Web Directory: http://search.co.tt *********************************************************