Northwest Airlines today
announced new daily nonstop jet service between Des Moines, Iowa, and
Reagan National Airport serving Washington, D.C. This will be the only nonstop service between Iowa and any Washington-area
airport.

“The nation’s Heartland, including Iowa, is a critical market for
Northwest Airlines, and we are pleased to be able to provide additional
options for travelers to and from this region,” said Tom Bach, vice
president of market planning and Airlink. “This new service will enable
business travelers to more conveniently fly from Iowa’s capital city to
the nation’s capital and return home on the same day. We appreciate the
support and assistance of the Iowa delegation, especially Senator Chuck
Grassley, Senator Tom Harkin and Representative Leonard Boswell, who have
worked tirelessly to restore service between Des Moines and Washington and
have worked closely with the Department of Transportation to articulate
the many benefits of this route.”

The service was made possible through a special Federal Aviation
Administration lottery for available slots at Reagan National Airport.

“This announcement is good news for both business and recreational
travelers in Iowa,” said U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa). “A direct,
daily flight to the nation’s capital from the heart of Iowa will make the
trip more productive for businesses and more convenient for vacationers.
Northwest has shown that making this flight happen is a priority, and I’m
confident that Iowans will make use of it so that it proves to be
profitable.”

The new service complements the 17 existing daily flights between Des
Moines and Northwest’s hubs at Minneapolis/St. Paul, Detroit and Memphis,
Tenn.

The flights will be operated with Northwest Airlink partner Pinnacle
Airlines Corp.‘s Canadair Regional Jet (CRJ).
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