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Northwest to Add Daily Portland-Tokyo Flights
January 7, 2004
Northwest to Add Daily Portland-Tokyo Flights
Bend.com, OR
Northwest Airlines (NASDAQ:NWAC) announced Wednesday that it will offer daily
nonstop service between Portland and Tokyo, beginning June 10.
The new service will make Portland the airline's eighth U.S.-Japan gateway and
fourth West coast destination from Tokyo, more than what's offered by any other
airline on both counts, as well as the first new Tokyo gateway that the airline
has launched in almost five years.
"Northwest is excited by the opportunity to bring our 56 years of trans-
Pacific experience, unrivaled Asia/Pacific network, and customer comforts and
services to the Portland-Tokyo market," said Richard Anderson, chief executive
officer of Northwest Airlines. "Travelers to and from Oregon will now have the
convenience of nonstop flights from our Satellite 2 facilities at Narita
Airport near Tokyo, and single connections between Portland and 12 cities in
our Asia/Pacific network."
From Northwest's Tokyo hub, Portland travelers will be able to make single
connections to the airline's Asia/Pacific network which includes Bangkok,
Thailand; Beijing; Busan, South Korea; Guam; Hong Kong; Manila, Philippines;
Nagoya, Japan; Saipan, Mariana Islands; Seoul, South Korea; Shanghai, People's
Republic of China; Singapore and Taipei, Taiwan.
"Leaders in business, government and at the Port of Portland made it clear to
Northwest that the community would value and support nonstop service to Tokyo,"
said Phil Haan, executive vice president of international, sales and
information services. "We view today's announcement as the beginning of what we
hope will be a mutually beneficial partnership to make Portland-Tokyo service a
success for business and leisure travelers, the community and Northwest."
U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), a member of the Senate Aviation Subcommittee and
the full Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, said, "The
Tokyo service will create new opportunities for increased links between Oregon
and Asia, with the potential to benefit businesses in both Japan and Oregon."
He added, "I commend and thank Northwest Airlines for its decision to recognize
the resurgence of Portland as an international destination."
Northwest's new flights are timed to allow convenient connections in Portland
to and from nearly 30 U.S. destinations served by Northwest and its marketing
partner airlines, including Alaska Airlines, Horizon Air, Continental Airlines
and Delta Air Lines.
"Oregon will benefit tremendously from this new service," said U.S. Sen. Gordon
Smith (R-Ore.). "From tourism to high tech, our economy is closely intertwined
with the availability of direct contact with Asia, and this will help bring
desperately needed jobs to Oregon."
Flight 5 will depart Portland International Airport at 1:50 p.m. PST and arrive
at Tokyo's Narita Airport the following day at 4:30 p.m. Flight 6 will depart
Tokyo at 3:10 p.m. and return to Portland at 8:15 a.m. PST the same day.
Initially, the flight will be operated with a DC10-30 aircraft, with 26 seats
in Northwest's World Business Class and 247 seats in coach class.
In the fourth quarter of 2004, the flight is planned to transition to
Northwest's new long-range Airbus A330-200 aircraft, with 32 seats in World
Business Class and 211 seats in coach class. Northwest will begin taking
delivery of the first of 10 new A330-200s it has ordered in mid-2004.
The A330-200 will be equipped with Northwest's new lie-flat World Business
Class seat that allows passengers to recline to 176 degrees, offering more
degrees of recline than what is available on any other U.S. airline and many
international carriers. Northwest's new World Business Class seat offers
passengers a virtually infinite number of adjustments so that the seat is able
to conform to the position that is most comfortable for the individual
passenger.
The A330-200 will also be equipped with Northwest's new, fully interactive
in-flight entertainment system, offering both World Business Class and coach
customers a wide variety of music, movies, short subject programs, games,
shopping, and in-flight information, all "on demand." The new system permits
customers the freedom and flexibility to start, pause, or stop any of these
options at any time. World Business Class seats on Northwest's A330 have a 10.4
inch video screen, which is 50 percent larger than the screens found in
business class seats on other U.S. airlines and many international airlines.
Coach seats have an individual 6.5 inch screen.
SPECIAL INTRODUCTORY FARE, TICKET CHANGE POLICY OFFERED
In celebration of Northwest's new Portland-Tokyo nonstop service, the airline
is offering a special introductory fare of $319 each way from Portland to Tokyo
or Nagoya, Japan. Northwest is also offering introductory fares from Portland
to Beijing, Busan, Hong Kong, Seoul, Shanghai, Singapore or Taipei for $379
each way, Bangkok for $404 each way and Manila for $494 each way.
Introductory fares are also being offered from other Pacific Northwest cities
such as Bend/Redmond, Eugene and Klamath Falls, Ore., as well as Spokane,
Wash., at slightly higher fares.
Example fares are each way, per passenger, based on a roundtrip purchase in
coach class. Fares shown do not include a federal excise tax of $3.10 per
segment flown that will be imposed on each flight segment. A segment is defined
as a takeoff and a landing. Passenger Facility Charges (PFCs) of up to $18
roundtrip, departure/arrival and customs and immigrations fees of up to $80 USD
apply. September 11 security fees of up to $10 roundtrip per person may apply
and additional terms and conditions apply. For a complete list of terms and
conditions, see below.
Customers currently holding tickets for travel June 10, 2004 and beyond on
connecting itineraries from Portland or other Pacific Northwest cities to Japan
and Asia will be able to change to Northwest's new Portland-Tokyo nonstop
service without paying an administrative change fee, provided changes are made
by April 30, 2004.
SELF-SERVICE CHECK-IN AVAILABLE, NEW WORLDCLUB OPENS
In support of its new Portland-Tokyo nonstop service, Northwest will open a new
WorldClub airport lounge at Portland International Airport. The new 6,000
square foot club will open during the second half of 2004, and will be located
on the mezzanine level near gate D8.
Every WorldClub location is designed to maximize a traveler's comfort and
productivity. WorldClubs offer a quiet place to relax during journeys,
friendly, personalized assistance with travel arrangements, complimentary
snacks and beverages and productivity-enhancing business tools, including
private work stations, seats with integral data and power ports, computers,
printers and self-service fax machines in most locations.
Travelers flying Northwest's new Portland-Tokyo nonstops will also be able to
utilize the most developed self-service check-in program in the airline
industry. Northwest offers both its international and domestic customers the
option of checking-in, obtaining a boarding pass, and performing many other
functions over the Internet at nwa.com or through one of the airline's 780
airport self-service check-in kiosks in 187 airports, more than any other
airline in the world. At Portland International Airport, customers wishing to
take advantage of the speed, convenience, and control of self-service check-in
can use nwa.com to obtain their boarding pass, or visit one of five kiosks in
the airport lobby.
PORTLAND - TOKYO SERVICE CURRENTLY OFFERED THROUGH SEATTLE
Today Northwest provides service from Portland to Tokyo through the Seattle hub
of its alliance partners, Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air. Portland travelers
fly to Seattle on flights operated by Horizon Air, and then connect to
Northwest's daily Seattle - Tokyo nonstop flight.
Northwest's marketing partnerships with Alaska Airlines, Horizon Air,
Continental Airlines and Delta Air Lines connect Northwest flights out of
Portland with the partner airlines' extensive schedules throughout the United
States. In addition, Alaska Airlines, Horizon Air, Continental Airlines and
Delta Air Lines customers can earn and redeem frequent flyer miles on Northwest
flights, and members of Northwest's WorldPerks frequent flyer program can earn
and redeem mileage on partner-operated flights. The partnerships also provide
members of each carrier's airport lounge programs, such as Northwest's
WorldClubs, with reciprocal access.
Northwest currently offers four daily domestic nonstop flights from Portland
International Airport to its Minneapolis/St. Paul hub.
Northwest's new Tokyo service is available for purchase via the Internet at
nwa.com, by telephone at Northwest international reservations in the U.S. at
1-800-447-4747 or through a travel agent beginning immediately.
NORTHWEST OFFERS MORE SERVICE TO JAPAN
Northwest offers service to more destinations in Asia, more flights to Japan,
and more flights within Asia than any other U.S. airline. The airline operates
a hub from Satellite Two at Tokyo's Narita Airport that connects the U.S.
gateways of Detroit, Honolulu, Los Angeles, Minneapolis/St. Paul, New York-JFK,
San Francisco and Seattle to key destinations such as Bangkok, Beijing, Busan,
Guam, Hong Kong, Manila, Nagoya, Saipan, Seoul, Shanghai, Singapore and Taipei.
Northwest also offers nonstop service from Osaka to Detroit and Taipei, and
from Nagoya to Detroit, Manila, and Saipan.
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. With its travel partners, Northwest serves nearly 750 cities
in almost 120 countries on six continents. In 2002, consumers from throughout
the world recognized Northwest's efforts to make travel easier. A 2002 J.D.
Power and Associates study ranked airports at Detroit and Minneapolis/St. Paul,
home to Northwest's two largest hubs, tied for second place among large
domestic airports in overall customer satisfaction. Readers of TTG Asia and TTG
China named Northwest "Best North American airline."
INTRODUCTORY FARE TERMS AND CONDITIONS: Fares are each way and require a round
trip purchase in coach class. Tickets must be purchased within seven days of
making reservations. Tickets must be purchased no later than January 31, 2004.
Travel Dates: Fares are valid outbound from June 10, 2004 through June 30,
2004. All travel must be completed by July 15, 2004. Off-Peak Days: Fares are
valid for travel Monday through Thursday. Fares other days of the week may be
slightly higher. Minimum/Maximum Stay: Minimum stay allowed is six days.
Maximum stay allowed is 30 days. All travel must be completed by July 15, 2004.
Stopovers: Not permitted. Additional Taxes/Fees: Sale fares do not include: up
to $80 roundtrip for US Transportation Tax/Customs and Immigration Charges and
foreign departure taxes; and Passenger Facility Charges of $1 to $3 per airport
apply, up to a maximum of $12 roundtrip per person. September 11 security fees
of up to $10 roundtrip per person may apply. Changes to Itinerary: Changes may
be made prior to scheduled flights for a $150 administrative service fee.
Changes requested after departure of the originally scheduled flights are not
permitted. Other Conditions: Tickets are nonrefundable. Unused tickets not
changed prior to originally scheduled flights have no value and cannot be
exchanged. Seats are limited and may not be available on all flights. Fares are
subject to change. Some fares are subject to government approval. Some travel
may be operated by Northwest Airlink or Northwest-designated partner airlines.
Other restrictions may apply.
---
Statement on Northwest announcement by Gov. Ted Kulongoski:
"When I took office about a year ago, Oregon did not have any overseas
international air service. We welcomed passenger service to Europe and Mexico
and cargo service to China in 2003. And I am overjoyed today to begin 2004 by
welcoming Northwest Airlines and a non-stop route from Portland to Tokyo,
Japan.
"Overseas airline connections are essential to the health of Oregon's economy.
No longer are we able to rely on domestic trade in order to reap economic
benefit. I especially want to commend the work of the International Air Service
Committee co-chaired under the leadership of Sho Dozono and Joe D'Allessandro,
for helping us to make the case to NW Airlines that Oregon is a great place to
do business.
"Now, at a time when capital moves across international borders at the speed of
light, we need to be able to get ourselves overseas quickly in order to do
business. And nowhere is this more necessary than in Asia. Oregon's trade with
Asia has expanded exponentially in recent years-we export everything from
luscious fruits, nuts and wheat to wood products and high tech equipment. This
trade will only be improved now that one is able to go directly from Portland
to Tokyo.
"Further, this route has significant economic benefits to our state. As a
result of this service, we expect $108 million in total regional business
revenues and more than 1,100 regional jobs.
"I expect that many more Oregonians will now have a chance to travel as
tourists in Japan and other Asian countries served by Northwest - and many more
Asian travelers will have the opportunity to experience all Oregon has to
offer.
"Finally, we will also make the most of this flight by promoting Portland as a
gateway for outgoing US travelers for the Beijing Olympics in 2008 and incoming
Asian travelers for the Vancouver, BC Olympics in 2010. At every opportunity,
we will put forward whatever resources we have available to make sure this
flight is successful and sustained.
"I would especially like to thank Bill Wyatt, the executive director of the
Port of Portland, for his work in bringing Oregon and SW Washington together on
this issue. Literally within hours of the visit with Northwest Airlines this
fall, business and government leaders began to reach out to others and market
this opportunity for our region.
"This announcement is a testament to what we can accomplish when government and
the private sector work together to build a strong economy for our region."
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