Northwest canceling flights due to maintenance backlogs

MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota (CNN) -- Maintenance backlogs caused by a union work slowdown are causing Northwest Airlines to cancel flights up to eight days in advance and consolidate flights along busy routes, a spokeswoman said Friday.

"On shorter routes where we have quite a bit of frequency, what we'll do is consolidate some of the flights," said Northwest spokeswoman Kathy Peach.

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Affected routes vary depending on which planes require maintenance, Peach said, but some routes might include Minneapolis-Chicago and Minneapolis-Detroit.

"We are in contract negotiations with our mechanics, so delays happen because people aren't working overtime," Peach said. "The maintenance tends to back up, and that's what we're dealing with right now."

Union leaders denied mechanics had done anything to disrupt Northwest's flight schedule.

Peach said the cancellations are being made to "keep the operation efficient."

Passengers were being moved to other flights on the same day, and "there will still be room for them," Peach said.

Northwest Airlines

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