MINOT (AP) - A Swiss-based contractor hired to take over ground crew duties for Northwest Airlines here says most the airline's ground workers have applied for jobs.

James Kidd, Swissport International Ltd.'s training manager, told the Minot City Council's airport committee on Monday that 10 of 15 current ground crew workers at the airport could be hired by his company.

Kidd said Swissport could hire seven or eight employees in addition to the former Northwest employees. Another Northwest worker will stay with the airline as its station manager in Minot.

Northwest is contracting for ground crews in some airports and cutting its own ground crews as part of its bankruptcy restructuring.

Minot airport manager Mike Ryan said former Northwest employees likely won't be paid as much by Swissport. But he said passenger safety should not be affected.