=20 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- This article was sent to you by someone who found it on SF Gate. The original article can be found on SFGate.com here: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=3D/news/archive/2003/09/25/f= inancial1234EDT0117.DTL ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Thursday, September 25, 2003 (AP) Northwest to close Detroit reservations center (09-25) 09:34 PDT EAGAN, Minn. (AP) -- Northwest Airlines is closing its reservations center near Detroit in early December because of decreased call volumes and increased use of the Internet for booking flights. The Eagan-based carrier said Thursday it will handle customer calls through its five remaining U.S. call centers. Northwest said the 570 contract employees at the reservations center Livonia, Mich., will be eligible to transfer to one of the carrier's reservations centers in Baltimore, Chisholm, Minn.; Minneapolis, Seattle and Tampa, Fla. Northwest said 11 management positions will be eliminated. Northwest also will close its city ticket office at Livonia. "In today's challenging environment, Northwest Airlines must look at eve= ry possible way to reduce costs, while at the same time, continue to provide its traditional level of customer service," said Tim Griffin, executive vice president of marketing and distribution. The volume of calls to the Livonia reservations center had dropped by 10 percent annually over the past several years, he said. Spokeswoman Mary Stanik said it is too early to tell how much money will be saved by closing the reservations center. Northwest, the world's fourth largest airline, has hubs in Detroit, Minneapolis-St. Paul and Memphis. In afternoon trading on the Nasdaq Stock Market, Northwest shares were up 9 cents at $10.38. On the Net: Northwest Airlines: www.nwa.com =20 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright 2003 AP