
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, October 19, 1993                   TAG: 9310190086
SECTION: BUSINESS                    PAGE: B7   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Knight-Ridder Newspapers
DATELINE: ST. PAUL, MINN.                                LENGTH: Short

NORTHWEST BACK FROM THE BRINK, POSTS BIG PROFIT

Three months ago, Northwest Airlines kept lawyers cooling their heels in a Delaware hotel waiting for the go-ahead to file for protection from creditors in a U.S. bankruptcy court.

On Monday, the company that had become synonymous with financial turmoil said it enjoyed one of its most profitable quarters in its history.

NWA Inc., the corporate parent of Northwest, reported a $112.3 million net profit for the three-month period ended Sept. 30, compared with a $19.7 million loss during the third quarter 1992.

The company said its operating profit was $270.1 million for the period, up from $61.0 million during the same period a year ago.

It's the first of what analysts believe will be a parade of profits from the nation's major air carriers. Higher fares, moderate fuel costs and leaner payrolls are expected to propel most airlines back into the black.

USAir, which has forecast a $180 million third-quarter loss, is expected to be the only major carrier landing in the red for the period. Analysts have forecast near-record industry operating profits of up to $1.2 billion for the period.

But some maintain the industry will see traffic levels continue to erode into 1994 as tax increases begin to nibble at discretionary income.

by CNB