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Article: The missing pieces; Though planes are beginning to fill again, many business travelers are staying away. At Northwest, 10 percent of its customers account for 40 percent of its revenue; unless the airline can lure them back, profitability will be hard to come by.(BUSINESS)
- Article from:
- Star Tribune (Minneapolis, MN)
- Article date:
- October 24, 2001
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2001 Star Tribune Co. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Byline: Tony Kennedy; Staff Writer
RSEC:+
When Northwest Airlines on Thursday announces a third-quarter loss that easily will top $100 million, investors will hear a lot about an industrywide shortage of business travelers.
While many Americans have returned to the air on low-fare leisure tickets and begun to fill the industry's reduced schedule of flights, Northwest and other airlines are bemoaning the continued absence of high-fare business fliers.
In short supply even before the Sept. 11 attacks, the passengers who carry briefcases and pay big bucks for unrestricted tickets are crucial to the profitability of the U.S. fleet. ...