Northwest Airlines to Cut 2,500 Jobs

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - July 9, 2008 President and CEO Doug Steenland blames the cuts on fuel costs that have more than doubled in the past year.

Northwest says it will offer voluntary departures, vowing furloughs will be used only if it does not get enough volunteers to reach the 2,500 jobs target.

Northwest also says it will begin charging $15 for the first checked bag, matching a fee added by other carriers this year. And the airline says it will begin charging a fee for frequent-flier award tickets - from $25 for domestic tickets to $100 for flights to Asia.