November 11, 1998 - for weds m.e. When Northwest Airlines tried to win back customers after a walkout by its pilots union, the airline offered double and triple frequent flyer miles for travel. That strategy was testimony to the popularity of frequent flyer miles, which have been called the most powerful marketing programs in history. But with their popularity is coming criticism that frequent flyer plans promise more than they deliver. Minnesota Public Radio's Bill Catlin reports. Frequent Flyer plans were designed to promote airline customer loyalty. They were so successful, companies in other industries
October 5, 1998 - Northwest Airlines resumed full operations two weeks ago following the pilots strike, and many travel agents predicted a major fare sale would be in full swing by now. But so far, Northwest has stopped short of a big sale, leaving many observers wondering why. On the other hand, travel agents say the airline that dominates Twin Cities air traffic has reduced many fares, even if the company is not promoting the cuts.
October 2, 1998 -
September 17, 1998 - Two competing portrayals of Norwest Corporation and Wells Fargo emerged in a federal researve board hearing on their proposed merger today in Minneapolis. Supporters praised the banks commitment to poor and minority communities, while critics blasted their lending and consumer banking practices. But as Minnesota PUblic Radio's Bill Catlin reports, the hearing is not expected to have much impact on whether the merger proceeds. SFX The day began with about 3 dozen protesaters from community a
September 10, 1998 - USE THIS VERSION--CORRECTS DCART # As the Northwest Pilots strike continues it is prompting some comparisons to the strike that led to the demise of Eastern Airlines. Minnesota Public Radio's Bill Catlin has this look at the two situations, and how Northwest is likely to emerge from the pilots strike.
August 31, 1998 - Twin cities airport officials say things were relatively calm at Minneapolis St. Paul Internaional airport today. Airport officials had been bracing for the worst on the first business day of the Northwest airlines pilots strike which grounded the airline late friday. As Minnesota Public Radio's Bill Catlin reports, morning travellers either had an easy time of it, or became ensnared in frustrating misadventures trying to get out of town. sfx-- Are they insane?
August 28, 1998 - As the hours before a strike deadline wound down the rhetoric between northwest airlines and its pilots union did not. With a deadline of 11:01 tonight, Northwest issued a report saying the economic damage of a month long pilots strike would be enough to rank among the top ten natural disasters of the decade. Minnesota Public Radio's Bill Catlin reports. The report contends a northwest Airlines strike easily meets the legal test for the president to intervene and send the pilots back to work. Northwest publicized the study roughly 12 hours before the strike deadline. Northwest officials have maintained the company is not lobbying for presidential intervention. The report was prepared for the US Transportation Department. Northwest commissioned the rep
August 27, 1998 - In dueling advertisements, Northwest Airlines and its pilots union are trading shots over the value of stock the pilots' received in return for a pay cut that helped the company avert bankruptcy. The stock was part of nearly 900 million dollars in wage and benefit concessions negotiated in 1993 with the airline's largest unions. As a strike deadline tomorrow night approaches, both sides accuse the other using advertisements to mislead the the public over what the pilots got. Minnesota Public Radio's Bill Catlin has more. Ads placed by the Airline Pilots Association in today's major twin cities dailies refer to the concessions and a fifteen and a half percent pay cut the pilots accepted. It also says Northwest executives
August 26, 1998 - PLAYLIST 8071 With the deadline for a strike looming, one of the key questions hanging over negotiators for Northwest, the pilots union and communities the airline serves is whether President Clinton will put a strike on hold. The Bloomberg news service website reports a White House source says the president is not likely to order pilots back to work. A year and a half ago, Mr. Clinton broke with 3 decades of presidential practice and DID order American Airlines pilots back to work minutes after they went on strike. Experts disagree on whether the president will intervene in a Northwest strike. As Bill Catlin reports, some observers say the decision will be based as much on politics as economics.
June 12, 1998 - Federal Aviaton Administration officials confirmed today the agency is looking into allegations of deficiencies in Northwest's maintenance of DC-9 aircraft. Airline officials say the agency hasn't told them of any current investigation. The airline says allegations have been made, investigated and settled, and the F-A-A has raised no concerns about safety. Minnesota Public Radio's Bill Catlin reports. The investigation is the focus of a front page story in the Wall Street Journal, which notes that the airline has saved billions of dollars by upgrading elderly DC-9's instead of replacing them with newer aircraft. The article quotes an F.A.A. official saying the agency has received allegations that appear to have some credibility and th