Flight International online news 12:00GMT: US major Northwest Airlines claims its operations are so-far unaffected by the strike action undertaken by its engineers and mechanics, and expects to operate more than 96% of its flights this week under a newly-implemented maintenance structure.
Engineers walked out just after midnight on 20 August after a long-running and increasingly-bitter row between the carrier and their representative body, the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA).
Northwest Airlines operated more than 98% of scheduled services during the first day under its new maintenance arrangements. It expects to complete more than 96% of flights this week.
“Using a combination of trained and licensed management staff, veteran technicians, contract and vendor mechanics, we are meeting our maintenance needs safely and reliably,” it says, adding that the reduction in services is comparable to that expected during poor weather.
Northwest claims that it continued to operate its normal, early-autumn flight schedule over the weekend and that load factor yesterday reached nearly 81%. The carrier says: “[This is] an indicator that customers continue to have confidence in our reliability and operations.”
Source: Flight International
