Northwest Airlines today announced that it will add new service and resume seasonal nonstop flights from its Detroit and Minneapolis/St. Paul hubs to popular vacation destinations in Alaska. The airlineå‘s summer schedule to Anchorage and Fairbanks will be offered from June 7, 2002, through September 2, 2002.

Northwest’s summer service will include a total of 8 daily flights from the lower 48 United States to Alaska, offering travelers more connections to and from Alaska than ever offered by the airline.

New for 2002, Northwest will add a second seasonal daily nonstop on the Detroit - Anchorage route, complementing the seasonal nonstop service it offers every year. With 2 daily nonstops, Northwest will offer even more seats to travelers flying between Detroit and Anchorage, as well as provide more convenient connecting opportunities to Alaska-bound flyers from throughout the Midwest, northeast and southeast parts of the United States.

The new flight, which will depart Anchorage at 9:45 a.m., will be one of the few daytime options offered by any airline out of Anchorage for travelers heading south. The flight will be operated with a Boeing 757 aircraft accommodating 180 passengers with 22 seats in First Class and 158 seats in Coach Class.

From Minneapolis/St. Paul, Northwest will again increase its twice-daily year-round frequencies to Anchorage to five daily flights on a seasonal basis. Four frequencies will be operated with a 757. The fifth frequency will be flown with a DC-10 with 42 seats in First Class and 256 seats in Coach Class.

Northwest will again offer daily nonstop flights to and from Fairbanks during the summer. The flights will be operated with a 757 aircraft.

“I`m pleased to know about Northwest Airlines` newest summer flights to Anchorage and Fairbanks,” said Don Young, Congressman for all Alaska. “I`d like to welcome all the visitors to Alaska that Northwest can bring us. Northwest is resuming their summer flights to Alaska as well as adding new ones and that`s good news for Northwest and it`s good news for Alaska.”
Deborah Sedwick, Alaska’s Commissioner of Community and Economic Development said, “Northwest`s expansion of service to Detroit will help boost the number of visitors to Alaska this summer and is also good news for business travelers. Northwest is a wonderful corporate citizen and we thank them for this additional service and the revenue it will bring to our state.”

Northwest Airlines has been flying to the state of Alaska for more than 50 years.

Northwest’s summer flights are currently available for purchase by calling Northwest Reservations at 1-800-225-2525, via the Internet at nwa.com, or through a travel agent.

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