Northwest Airlines today announced
new nonstop service between its hub at Minneapolis/St. Paul and El Paso,
Texas. Two daily flights will be offered beginning April 4, 2005. “Northwest Airlines is pleased to welcome El Paso to its growing global
network,” said Tom Bach, vice president of market planning and Airlink.
“This new service will offer local travelers and visitors to the Rio
Grande Valley and the neighboring city of Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, with a
convenient connection to cities across the United States, Canada, Europe
and Asia. These new nonstop flights also will save travelers about two
hours in travel time in each direction over current connecting service
between Minnesota and the El Paso region.”

“We look forward to welcoming Northwest to our family of airlines at El
Paso International Airport,” said Patrick T. Abeln, director of aviation.
“We are certain they will be successful in providing El Paso’s first
nonstop service to Minneapolis-St. Paul.” El Paso Mayor Joe Wardy added,
“This is a strong indicator of El Paso’s continuing economic growth and
positive business climate. We look forward to being one of Northwest’s
newest destinations.”

The new service will be operated with Northwest Airlink partner Pinnacle
Airlines Corp.‘s Canadair Regional Jet (CRJ), which seats up to 50
passengers.

Including El Paso, Northwest has announced or has begun nonstop service to
13 new destinations from Minneapolis/St. Paul this year, growing its
nonstop service to a total of 168 destinations.
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