News Releases for December 2003
December 24, 2003
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Hoeven Calls On Northwest Airlines, Pilots' Union To Avert Mesaba Strike, Maintain Service
BISMARCK, N.D. - Gov. John Hoeven today sent letters to officials of Mesaba Airlines, Northwest Airline’s regional carrier, and its pilots’ union urging both sides to resolve their differences before an impending strike deadline of January 10. The letters went to Paul Foley, a Mesaba pilot and spokesman for the local unit of the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), and Bob Benner, Northwest Airlines director of state and local government affairs.
“Stable and reliable air transportation is critical to the economic health of North Dakota,” Hoeven said. “An airline strike would essentially shut down service to airports in Devils Lake and Jamestown, and adversely impact other airports unless Northwest puts in substitute flights. I strongly urge a swift resolution in the negotiations, which is in the best interest of the airline industry, the economy of North Dakota and the traveling public.”
Mesaba carries 11 of Northwest’s 27 daily commercial flights to North Dakota. In the event of a strike, Bismarck would lose two of seven Northwest flights and Fargo two of eight. Grand Forks could lose up to seven flights. Minot would retain its three daily flights, but Devils Lake and Jamestown could lose both of their daily scheduled flights.
Should the strike be impossible to avert, Hoeven pressed Northwest to put plans in place to make up for the discontinuation of Mesaba service.
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