News Releases for January 2004
January 9, 2004
For further information, please Contact the Governor's Office
Hoeven Calls for Additional Air Service if Mesaba Pilots Strike
BISMARCK, N.D. - Gov. John Hoeven today said he has been in contact with Northwest Airlines and Mesaba Airlines officials to make provisions in the event of a possible strike tonight by Mesaba pilots. He has asked Northwest Airlines officials to provide additional service to Fargo, Grand Forks and Bismarck in the event a settlement is not reached by 11 p.m. this evening, the deadline set by the Airline Pilots Association for negotiations.
Hoeven has also instructed North Dakota Aeronautics Commissioner Gary Ness to work with Great Lakes Airlines to provide service in Jamestown and Devils Lake in the event of a strike by Mesaba pilots. Ness is also working with the U.S. Department of Transportation to secure resources for an emergency change of service carrier for Devils Lake and Jamestown.
"Sustained air service is vital to North Dakota," Hoeven said. "We will continue to press the parties to settle, but we are also working to get alternative services in place should the strike occur. Northwest has indicated to us that roughly equivalent seating will be made available in Fargo, Grand Forks and Bismarck in the event of a strike, and we will work with Great Lakes Airlines to cover Jamestown and Devils Lake."
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 five flights. Devils Lake and Jamestown could lose both of their daily scheduled flights.
E-mail comments to the Governor