The nation's airlines, which pleaded for a federal bailout after the Sept. 11 attacks, are shying away for now from applying for government loan guarantees after seeing the stringent requirements placed on the first recipient, America West Airlines.

        On Wednesday, NWA Inc., parent of Northwest Airlines, said it would not submit an application soon to the federal Air Transportation Stabilization Board, which last Friday gave tentative approval to America West's application after exacting an option to buy up to one-third of the carrier's equity.

        Executives said that Northwest had been gathering the data to apply for a loan guarantee, but given the America West package, the airline has slowed its efforts. “We are still in the studying mode,” said Bill Mellon, a Northwest spokesman.

        US Airways Group, which has frequently been mentioned as a likely candidate because of its financial woes, said Monday it “had no plan to file” an application for loan guarantees.

        Delta Air Lines also is not planning to file for the loans. The nation's third-largest carrier, which operates its second-largest hub at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, has already received $346 millionin direct grants under the bailout approved in October, and expects to get $690 million total.

        “While Delta is grateful for having the assistance available, under the current circumstances, we do not anticipate applying for government assistance at this time,” company spokeswoman Kristi Tucker said.

        This position was stated even before the strings attached to the America West deal became apparent, Ms. Tucker said.

        Delta's Erlanger-based regional subsidiary Comair would let the parent company make any decisions on loans, Comair spokeswoman Meghan Glynn said. Comair received $10.3 million in grants and expects a total of $14 million.

        But Ms. Glynn said those funds were given to Delta first, and then handed down to subsidiaries.

        Other carriers declined to comment on their plans, but some industry analysts said executives were reacting to the America West package with dismay.

        “Most airlines are looking at this as a rough guide, and they don't like what they saw,” said Raymond Neidl, aviation analyst with ABN Amro in New York.

Unemployment rate hits 5.8%
Smaller companies find ways to gain in recession
Businesses shop for electricity
Radio exec Wood defends sale
Airline travel down since 2000
Loan strings dismay airlines
Service Merchandise retail chain to end operations
Business Digest
Rate report
Tristate Summary
What's the Buzz?
HIGGINS: Personal Finance
Savvy strategies