February 9, 2001

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NATIONAL MEDIATION BOARD

RE: Northwest Airlines and Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association

The National Mediation Board (NMB) announced today that it proffered binding arbitration in a contract dispute between Northwest Airlines and the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA), and that AMFA rejected the NMB's offer to resolve the dispute through arbitration. The NMB sent both parties a letter today, advising them a 30-day cooling off period begins February 10. Although AMFA rejected the proffer earlier during the week, the NMB conducted five days of continuous, but unsuccessful, meetings before the NMB started the 30 day count down. No strike action can legally occur before 12:01 a.m. on March 12. The NMB notified President George W. Bush that a dispute exists which threatens substantially to deprive a section of the country of essential transportation service. The NMB encouraged the President to consider the establishment of a Presidential Emergency Board. The NMB stated the dispute between Northwest and AMFA is an extraordinary situation which has evaded resolution despite nearly one hundred days of mediation, involving several mediators, the Chief of Staff and the Chairman of the NMB.

AMFA represents more than 10,000 mechanics and related employees at Northwest. The carrier serves more than 42 international destinations and 113 domestic destinations and its route network extends to more than 500 cities in 100 countries.