Associated Press
MINNEAPOLIS — Travelers who think they wouldn’t be affected if mechanics strike Northwest Airlines could be in for a surprise.
If they are booked on Continental Airlines, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines or any of more than a dozen other carriers that are Northwest code-share partners, Northwest may actually be the carrier operating their flight.
Terry Trippler, an airline expert with the Web travel broker OneTravel.com, issued an alert to clients yesterday, warning that their plans could be disrupted if Northwest’s mechanics, cleaners and custodians strike.
Representatives of Northwest and the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association return to the bargaining table with federal mediators in Washington today in another attempt to reach a contract agreement. At last report, the sides were more than $1 billion apart on a three-year contract.
Negotiators have until Monday before a 30-day cooling-off period ends and nearly 10,000 AMFA members would be free to strike.
President Bush said he would appoint a presidential emergency board to broker a settlement proposal if there is no accord, blocking any strike for another 60 days, until mid-May.
If there is a strike, Northwest spokesman Doug Killian said, flights operated by Northwest under another carrier’s coding would be affected the same as flights under Northwest’s name.
Domestic airlines that could be affected include Continental, America West, Alaska Airlines, Horizon Air, and American Eagle’s California operations. Internationally, KLM and Air China are among Northwest’s code-share partners.
George Wozniak of Hobbit Travel in Minneapolis said his agency is suggesting that clients book another airline if they are traveling after May 6.
"Our agents are very cognizant we’re not putting somebody on a code-share," he said.
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