Northwest Cargo loss leaves Lynxs CargoPort in the lurch

A DECISION by Northwest Cargo to scrap flights in December from Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport in Alaska to Japan's Narita International Airport is expected to leave vacant 70 per cent of the Lynxs Alaska CargoPort that serviced Northwest's cargo flights.

A report by the Alaska Journal of Commerce said the move by Northwest Airlines Cargo to stop flying its Boeing 747 cargo aircraft on this route will result in up to 350 job losses just days before Christmas.

In the meanwhile, the loss of business will also result in state aviation officials cutting marketing, as well as other jobs in the Alaska International Airport System.

The report noted that officials with Lynxs Alaska CargoPort, a major independent cargo facility at Anchorage's airport, have raised concerns about the recent decision by Deputy Commissioner of Aviation Christine Klein to cut more than 50 jobs at the Anchorage airport.

They are said to be particularly worried that all of the Anchorage airport's marketing staff will be cut as a cost savings measure.

"We assumed that with Northwest Cargo operations leaving (Anchorage) that we would be working with Linda Close (airport marketing) to go forwards with helping us fill our space. We were shocked when she was unavailable and we heard of the cuts," Raymond Brimble, President and CEO of Lynxs Group was quoted as saying. "This comes at a time when we need to work together with the state, not retreat."

(Source: www.schednet.com)