Northwest Airlines Corp, the fourth largest airline in the United States, reported yesterday its loss in the second quarter widened to US$225 million.

The loss of Northwest compared with a loss of US$182 million in the same quarter of last year.

The company reported that its revenue in the quarter increased to US$3.195 billion from US$2.87 billion a year earlier.

Chief executive Doug Steenland said that "we are running out of phrases to describe our results in recent quarters. They are clearly unacceptable."

He warned that the airline needs pension reform and labor cost cuts to stay out of Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings.

(eastday.com July 27, 2005)