SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
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FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of1934
Date of Report ( Date of earliest event reported) : August 29, 1998
MESABA HOLDINGS, INC.
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(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Minnesota 0-17895 41-1616499
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(State or other (Commission File (I.R.S. Employer
Jurisdiction of Number) Identification
incorporation) No.)
7501 26th Avenue South
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55450
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(Address of principal executive offices)
Registrant's telephone no., including area code: (612) 726-5151
Not Applicable
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(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
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ITEM 5. Other Events.
On August 29, 1998 Mesaba Holdings, Inc. and its wholly owned
subsidiary, Mesaba Aviation, Inc. announced that it had temporarily ceased
operations as a result of the Northwest Airlines Pilots strike.
ITEM 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
The following are exhibits to this current Report:
99.1 Press release of the Company dated August 29, 1998
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SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its
behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
Date: August 31, 1998
MESABA HOLDINGS, INC.
By: /s/ John S. Fredericksen
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John S. Fredericksen
Vice President and General Counsel
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EXHIBIT INDEX
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Exhibit
Number Description
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99.1 Press release of the Company dated August 29, 1998.
<PAGE>
For Immediate Release:
Mesaba Airlines Temporarily Suspends Flights Due to Northwest Airlines
Pilot Strike Minneapolis/St. Paul - August 29, 1998 - Mesaba Airlines,
which operates as a Northwest Airlink affiliate, announced today that it
has temporarily suspended operations because of the Northwest Airlines
pilots strike. "We regret having to take this action, understanding the
disruption this will cause our customers, but with almost 80% of our
traffic connecting with Northwest Airlines it is not economically viable,
in the short term, to continue operating" said Bryan K. Bedford Mesaba's
President & Chief Executive Officer. Bedford added "we remain hopeful the
negotiators, on both sides, can come together to reach a settlement soon
so that we can resume service to the 91 cities in our route structure".
Mesaba Airlines transports approximately 15,000 passengers a day, 79% of
which transfer to Northwest Airlines flights at their hubs in Detroit and
Minneapolis/St.Paul. The airline provides service to 91 cities in 19
states and 3 Canadian provinces. Passengers will be able to get the latest
information through the Northwest Airlines Web Site at www.nwa.com
Mesaba Holdings, Inc., the parent company of Mesaba Aviation, Inc. d/b/a
Mesaba Airlines, operates as a Northwest Airlink affiliate under
code-sharing agreements with Northwest Airlines. Currently, Mesaba
Airlines serves 91 cities in 19 states and Canada from its two hubs at
Minneapolis/St. Paul and Detroit Metro International Airports. The
airline was recently named "Regional Airline of the Year" by Air Transport
World. This is the first time in five years that a U.S. based regional
airline has received this prestigious award. Mesaba operates a fleet of
85 turbo-prop and jet aircraft including the 30-34 passenger Saab 340,
the 37-passenger deHavilland Dash-8 and the 69 passenger Avro RJ85.
Mesaba Holdings, Inc. is traded under the symbol MAIR on the NASDAQ
National Market.
For more information please contact: Warren R. Wilkinson - Mesaba
Airlines 612-725-4915
More information about Mesaba Airlines is available on the internet
at:www.mesaba.com
