In response to the announcement made today by Northwest Airlines that it has reached a settlement agreement in the Detroit Snowstorm Class Action Lawsuit, co-lead class counsel, Lawrence S. Charfoos of Charfoos & Christensen, P.C., Detroit, Michigan says he believes that this settlement is significant news to the airline industry and that, "Northwest Airlines has acted in the best interests of its passengers and stockholders." "I believe this settlement will encourage all airlines to be careful about the rights of airline passengers in the future," Charfoos adds. As reported in the Media Release issued by Northwest Airlines, the class will receive a total payment of just over $7.1 million which, after payment of costs and attorneys' fees, will be distributed to class members as ordered by the court. The class action lawsuit, which involved up to 7000 passengers affected by delays and canceled flights during the 1999 New Years Weekend snowstorm in Detroit, drew national media attention.