Tuesday August 7 2:43 PM ET
Northwest Cutting Special Meals

EAGAN, Minn. (AP) - The fruit plate is on its way out for those flying in the main cabin on Northwest Airlines. So is the special meal Northwest calls ``bland diet.''

As part of cost-cutting, Northwest on Sept. 1 will stop serving 11 of its 17 alternative meals that have been available to domestic passengers flying in coach. All choices will remain available for higher-paying business and first class passengers and all international travelers.

Other specialty meals being discontinued in coach include the baby/infant meal, child meal, diabetic-low carbohydrate, liquid diet, gluten-free, lactose milk protein free, low calorie/cholesterol/fat, low sodium and soft diet.

The Eagan-based carrier said its Asian-spicy-vegetarian, Hindu, kosher, Moslem, vegetarian nondairy and vegetarian dairy/ovo-lacto will remain as alternatives to the standard offerings.

About 1.5 percent of Northwest's domestic passengers chose a special meal, which must be ordered prior to the flight.

Northwest wouldn't say how much money the meal choice cuts will save. The airline announced earlier that it planned to reduce costs for the rest of the year by $135 million by cutting 1,500 jobs, closing some facilities and reducing its flight schedule.

http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/ap/200...al_meals_1.html