Northwest Airlines to retire ageing planes
Published: 19/05/08
Northwest Airlines plan to retire its aging DC9s. The DC9s will be phased out this year due to rising fuel costs, but Northwest have reassured that they are still taking on extra pilots.
Northwest Airlines announced in a note to all pilots that there will still be 68 DC9s operating by the end of 2008 but that means that almost a third will be flying this year. The decision comes as global oil prices remain near record highs and airlines continue to look for ways to trim costs. Northwests DC9s are, on average, about 35 years old. Their interiors were overhauled in the 1990s, but the planes are less fuel efficient than newer models.
Northwest who mainly operate flights to Memphis , one of the airlines many hubs have said they still plan to take on extra pilots this year and have stated that once the DC9s have been retired there will still be enough aircraft to cover, with the extra staff being employed.