NWAC Northwest Airlines (MM)

Northwest Airlines Continues Growth at Detroit Rockford, Ill., and Ithaca, N.Y., Added as Newest Destinations From WorldGateway Hub DETROIT, Feb. 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Northwest Airlines (NASDAQ:NWAC) today announced continued growth at its WorldGateway hub -- and additional options for travelers -- with new nonstop service between Detroit and both Rockford, Ill., and Ithaca, N.Y., beginning May 2. Over the past year Northwest has begun or announced service to 18 destinations from Detroit -- including 10 new cities in Northwest's growing global network. The latest additions will bring to 163 the total number of destinations in the United States, Canada, Latin America, Europe and Asia served from the efficient and passenger-friendly WorldGateway hub. Based in a 2 million-square-foot (185,800-square-meter) facility, the WorldGateway hub features 97 domestic and international gates in three concourses. A 900-foot tunnel, 1.5 miles of moving walkways and two 200-passenger indoor trams that travel a mile in two and a half minutes ensure that passengers are never more than a few minutes from connecting gates. An additional 25 gates are being constructed for future growth in a $175 million expansion scheduled to be completed next year. Two daily flights between Detroit and Rockford -- a convenient alternative to O'Hare International Airport -- will be operated by Northwest Airlink partner Pinnacle Airlines Corp.'s Canadair Regional Jet (CRJ), which seats up to 50 passengers. This will be the only regularly scheduled service at Rockford by a major airline. Northwest and its Airlink partners last served Rockford in June 2001 with turboprop aircraft. In addition, two daily flights to Ithaca also commence May 2. The service will be operated with Northwest Airlink partner Mesaba Airlines' Saab 340 turboprop, seating up to 34 passengers. This will be the only service from Ithaca to a Midwest hub and complements Northwest's existing service to Elmira and Binghamton, N.Y. In addition to Rockford and Ithaca, Northwest and its Airlink partners will begin service between Detroit and Latrobe, Pa. (April 4), Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Pa. (April 4), Charlottesville, Va. (April 9), Bermuda (Saturday-only seasonal service beginning April 9) and Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada (daily seasonal service effective July 1). The new Rockford and Ithaca flights are now on sale at http://www.nwa.com/ , through travel agencies or Northwest Airlines Reservations at 1-800-225-2525. New Detroit-Rockford service effective May 2, 2005 Flight number: Departs: Arrives: Aircraft: NW 4737 3:10 p.m. 3:24 p.m. CRJ NW 4735 7:15 p.m. 7:29 p.m. CRJ New Rockford-Detroit service effective May 2, 2005 Flight number: Departs: Arrives: Aircraft: NW 4734* 7:20 a.m. 9:34 a.m. CRJ NW 4736 5:30 p.m. 7:46 p.m. CRJ * This flight begins May 3 New Detroit-Ithaca service effective May 2, 2005 Flight number: Departs: Arrives: Aircraft: NW 3233 10:10 a.m. 11:55 a.m. Saab 340 NW 3175 5:20 p.m. 7:05p.m. Saab 340 New Ithaca-Detroit service effective May 2, 2005 Flight number: Departs: Arrives: Aircraft: NW 3220* 6:15 a.m. 8:00 a.m. Saab 340 NW 3224 12:20 p.m. 2:05 p.m. Saab 340 * This flight begins May 3 Flight times subject to change Northwest Airlines is the world's fourth largest airline with hubs at Detroit, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Memphis, Tokyo and Amsterdam, and approximately 1,500 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. A 2004 J.D. Power and Associates study of airports ranked Minneapolis/St. Paul, one of Northwest's largest hubs, fourth among large domestic airports in overall customer satisfaction. DATASOURCE: Northwest Airlines CONTACT: Northwest Media Relations, +1-612-726-2331 Web site: http://www.nwa.com/

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