Northwest Airlines To Strengthen U.S.-China Passenger And Cargo Service

Enhancements Include an Additional Detroit-Shanghai Passenger Flight, New Code-Share Service in China and a Third Weekly Cargo Frequency

Northwest Airlines announced today that it will strengthen passenger and cargo service to China. Enhancements include a third weekly Detroit-Shanghai nonstop flight beginning April 1, 2001, new code-share service on China domestic routes with partner Air China effective Dec. 18, 2000 and a third weekly U.S.-Shanghai all-cargo freighter flight effective as early as April 1, 2001.

“Boosting Northwest’s Detroit-Shanghai nonstop schedule from two to three weekly flights shows our confidence in this service,” said Philip Haan, Northwest executive vice president-international, sales and information services. “Shanghai is the industrial center of the largest country in the world. Expanded nonstop service will significantly benefit Michigan’s automobile manufacturers and other industries.”

“Northwest has laid the foundation to be a major player in the lucrative China air trade market,” said Mickey Foret, Northwest’s chief financial officer and president of NWA Cargo. “U.S.-China air trade is continuing on its strong growth trend. Northwest’s third weekly freighter frequency to and from China will further strengthen our Asia/Pacific cargo network.”

Northwest inaugurated two weekly Detroit-Shanghai nonstop passenger flights on April 6 this year using Boeing 747-400 aircraft. Michigan Governor John Engler and Detroit Mayor Dennis Archer traveled on the inaugural flight and have championed trade and tourism ties between Detroit and China. Northwest’s spring 2001 schedule will also include four weekly Detroit-Beijing nonstop flights and three weekly flights from the United States to both Shanghai and Beijing via Northwest’s Tokyo hub.

“The additional Detroit-Shanghai nonstop flight next spring is a credit to the strong support that Governor Engler and Mayor Archer have placed on this international service,” said Andrea Fischer Newman, Northwest vice president-state and local affairs. “They know the importance of international trade, especially with a country of more than one billion people. Their backing has played a key role in the success of Northwest’s nonstop services from Detroit to Beijing and Shanghai.”

Northwest’s strong passenger flight schedule to China will be enhanced by new code-share service on China domestic routes with alliance partner Air China. Beginning Dec. 18, Northwest’s codes will appear on Air China’s flights connecting Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou with Shenyang, Xi’an, Nanjing, Qingdao, Chengdu and Xiamen. Air China has operated code-share service with Northwest on trans-Pacific and U.S. domestic routes since October, 1998. The new China domestic code-share service will make Northwest the first foreign airline to offer code-sharing service beyond the gateway cities of Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou.

“For our customers, they can travel on one ticket from the United States to interior business centers in China,” Haan said. “Code-share service includes all the benefits of ‘seamless travel’ including issuance all boarding passes at initial check-in, through luggage check, short connecting times and frequent flyer mileage credit for all flights.”

With its strengthened passenger and cargo schedule next spring, Northwest will operate 16 weekly round-trip flights to China. Northwest’s additional all-cargo flight will increase service from the United States to Shanghai’s Pudong International Airport via Tokyo.

“Our expansion of heavy freight capacity to China is what U.S. manufacturers need,” said Jim Friedel, vice president and general manager-NWA Cargo. “As China develops, it needs high-value U.S. exports to build its economic infrastructure. Northwest’s additional freighter service will meet those needs.”

Northwest Cargo is the largest freighter aircraft operator among U.S. combination airlines. It utilizes the airline’s fleet of wide-body passenger aircraft and operates 10 Boeing 747-200 freighters, all dedicated to the Pacific network. Two additional freighters will enter service in 2001. Northwest’s Asia/Pacific freighter markets include Tokyo, Osaka, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Taipei, Bangkok, Singapore, Manila and Guam. The U.S. freighter markets include New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle and Anchorage.

Northwest was the first U.S. airline to inaugurate service to China via the “Great Circle” route over the north Pacific in July, 1947. Northwest has the most experience serving China and has a passenger/cargo route system with its travel partners which spans more than 750 cities in nearly 120 countries on six continents.

Air China is China’s largest international airline and flag carrier. Its flight network covers 114 routes, including 43 international routes and 71 domestic routes. Air China operates more than 1,000 flights weekly and serves 29 cities in 19 countries and most major cities in China.