The fifth-largest US carrier, Northwest Airlines Corp, emerged from bankruptcy protection on Thursday after more than two years of severe cost-cutting measures, according to dpa. Northwest was the last major US airline to enter and now last to emerge from insolvency after United Airlines, Delta Airlines and US Airways all came through the process since 2001. Northwest lost 4.62 billion dollars between 2001 and 2005, and another 2.84 billion dollars last year, but expects to post a profit of 794 million dollars in 2007. The Eagan, Minnesota-based company reorganized routes, reduced and upgraded its fleet, slashed salaries and fired about 6,000 workers on its way to cutting some 2.4 billion dollars in production costs. Major airlines in the US were severely impacted by the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks and by stiff competition from low-fare carriers.
