Receives 168,000 Signed Letters and Petitions of Support
Northwest Airlines today filed its route case rebuttal presentation with the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), showing why the airline should receive new route authority between the U.S. and China.
"Northwest's Detroit to Shanghai passenger service proposal will provide a superior level of public benefits that no other applicant comes close to matching," said Phil Haan, executive vice president - international, alliances and information technology and chairman of NWA Cargo. "Northwest would serve the most U.S. cities, will access the largest portion of the U.S.-China traffic base, and will benefit the most U.S.-China passengers. These facts, combined with more than 168,000 letters of support, make Northwest's Detroit- Shanghai proposal the logical first choice for DOT."
Northwest's proposal offers the most benefits to travelers:
• Northwest will provide the most U.S. cities with convenient connections. Because of its superior geographic location, Northwest's Detroit hub can provide optimal service for 95 U.S. connecting points, compared to 48 for American, 43 for United and 39 for Continental.
• Northwest expects to benefit over 214,000 U.S.-China passengers in the forecast year, more than any other applicant. Northwest would carry 70,000 more passengers than American, 62,000 more passengers than Continental, and 8,000 more passengers than United.
• Northwest's application has received an unprecedented level of public support. As of today, Northwest had received 168,000 letters of support
• more than claimed by any other applicant.
Northwest Airlines is the world's fifth largest airline with hubs at Detroit, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Memphis, Tokyo and Amsterdam, and approximately 1,400 daily departures. Northwest is a member of SkyTeam, an airline alliance that offers customers one of the world's most extensive global networks. Northwest and its travel partners serve more than 900 cities in excess of 160 countries on six continents.
