MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - The chief executive of Northwest Airlines
Corp. says higher oil prices mean passengers will be paying more to
fly.

Over the weekend Northwest matched fare increases by United and
Continental of as much as $50 on some round-trip tickets.

Oil has been lingering above $100 a barrel, pushing up the cost
of jet fuel, too. CEO Doug Steenland says in a hot line message for
workers that airlines cannot absorb these cost increases.

He says, "Airfares will have to go up, and our passengers will
need to pay more."

Steenland says Northwest may end up paying $1.7 billion more for
jet fuel this year than it expected when it emerged from bankruptcy
protection last May.
     
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