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Title: Northwest Says Communications System Back Online

Source: http://library.northernlight.com/HC20000321340000017.html?cb=0&dx=2006&sc=0#doc

Story Filed: Tuesday, March 21, 2000 7:01 PM EST

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Northwest Airlines Corp. (NWAC.O) said Tuesday a Minnesota communications system that had shut down Tuesday afternoon was up and running again, after causing hundreds of flights to be delayed or canceled at the carrier's U.S. hub airports.

The shutdown, caused by a severed telecommunications cable near the airline's computer center in Eagan, Minn., near Minneapolis, came back online at about 5:15 p.m. Richard Anderson, chief operating officer, said in a telephone interview with Reuters.

About three hours earlier, the U S West Inc. (USW.N) cable was cut by a construction crew and a back-up system also failed, the nation's fourth-largest airline said.

``It's back up and recovering,'' Anderson said, adding that he hoped only a small number of the airline's 1,700 daily flights would have to be canceled

The severed communications line affected Northwest's ability to issue boarding passes and to make sure weight was distributed equally throughout its aircraft.

Copyright ) 2000 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.

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