<ARTICLE> 5 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> OCT-03-1997 <PERIOD-START> SEP-28-1996 <PERIOD-END> MAR-28-1997 <CASH> 28,868 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 502,737 <ALLOWANCES> 20,413 <INVENTORY> 351,093 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 983,054 <PP&E> 1,638,993 <DEPRECIATION> 796,150 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 2,816,009 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 866,391 <BONDS> 1,319,646 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 233 <OTHER-SE> 375,103 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 2,816,009 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 3,144,768 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 2,876,647 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 95,780 <LOSS-PROVISION> 4,328 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 60,002 <INCOME-PRETAX> 144,840 <INCOME-TAX> 29,233 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 115,607 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 115,607 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0 <EPS-DILUTED> 2.56