Northwest Airlines has filed a request with the U.S. Department of Transportation for new authority to expand its service to China.The airline is asking government approval to provide daily, nonstop service between Detroit and Shanghai.

“Detroit to Shanghai nonstop service is Northwest’s top international route priority. Our 122-gate, WorldGateway at Detroit terminal complex is perfectly situated to serve as an efficient gateway to China and is the only major hub that can easily offer competitive service to existing nonstop service from Chicago O’Hare,” said Phil Haan, Northwest executive vice president of international, alliances, and information technology and chairman, NWA Cargo.

Haan continued, “Northwest serves more cities from Detroit than any existing hub gateway, which will provide important new benefits for many cities in the Eastern U.S. that lack convenient and competitive service to China.”

Northwest proposes to commence nonstop Detroit to Shanghai service on or about March 25, 2007, using its Boeing 747-400 with 65 World Business Class and 338 coach class seats.
——-