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News Release

Release # 03.NWA5
December 12, 2003

St. Paul, Minn. --- The elected union leadership for Northwest Airlines pilots, as represented by the Air Line Pilots Association International (ALPA), directed its Negotiating Committee today to explore a possible interim investment agreement with NWA and to develop a proposal outline for the union leadership’s consideration no later than its March 2004 meeting.

"We believe all stakeholders must ultimately share in solving NWA’s problems, but recognize that a pilot investment could represent an intermediate step on the way to a long-term solution," NWA Master Executive Council (MEC) Chairman Capt. Mark McClain said. "Since April, the NWA pilot group has recognized the long-term viability problems facing our company and that an investment by labor will need to be part of the solution."

The MEC Negotiating Committee’s proposal outline would investigate a possible dollar amount of a pilot investment, appropriate quid pro quos, and provisions and conditions that would need to be met.

"The negotiating committee has been asked to develop a proposal which will enhance NWA’s long-term viability," McClain said. "We expect any investment by the pilot group will be rewarded and management would be required to share in any cost savings simultaneous with NWA pilots."

Founded in 1931, ALPA is the world’s oldest and largest pilot union, representing 66,000 pilots at 42 airlines in the U.S. and Canada, including approximately 6,300 Northwest pilots. Visit the ALPA Web site at http://www.alpa.org.

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SOURCE: Air Line Pilots Association

ALPA CONTACT: Will Holman, (612) 840-7749 or Hal Myers, (717) 805-7929