Posted on: Saturday, May 28, 2005
Northwest nixes its free pretzels
Associated Press
MINNEAPOLIS — In the latest cost-cutting move by a struggling airline, Northwest Airlines Corp. is eliminating free pretzels on its domestic flights, months after it stopped serving free meals.
Associated Press library photo Ebenhoch said pulling the free pretzels should save $2 million a year. Northwest, the nation's fourth-largest airline, lost $458 million in the last quarter alone. Northwest operates more than 1,500 flights a day in North America and another 100 per day overseas.
Shares of Northwest rose 12 cents to close at $5.59 yesterday on the Nasdaq Stock Market, where they have traded in a 52-week range of $4.20 to $11.83.
Delta Air Lines Inc. said in March that it was dropping its food-for-sale program, boosting prices on alcoholic drinks and eliminating pillows on many flights. As of April 3, the nation's third-largest airline replaced its 2-year-old food-for-sale program with a wider assortment of free snacks on most flights.
Beginning June 9, coach passengers who want anything other than soda will have to pay for it. They can get a 3-ounce bag of trail mix for $1. Northwest Airlines Corp. spokesman Kurt Ebenhoch said yesterday the airline has no immediate plans to stop offering soft drinks for free.
Northwest Airlines says getting rid of the free pretzels that only months ago replaced free meals is expected to save $2 million a year. Northwest lost $458 million in the last quarter.
