Northwest Airlines Corp fka NWA

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D.O.T. Proposes Approval of Northwest Airlines Application for Six Way Antitrust Immunity


Last update: 6:08 p.m. EDT April 9, 2008

EAGAN, Minn., Apr 09, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Northwest Airlines (NWAnorthwest airls corp com
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NWA) today announced the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has tentatively approved its application for six-way antitrust immunity with its SkyTeam alliance partners: Delta Air Lines, Air France, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Alitalia, and CSA Czech Airlines. Final approval is expected to follow after the DOT reviews the final round of comments to its "show cause" order.
Northwest already had antitrust immunity (ATI) with KLM through its 10-year-old joint venture. Delta currently has antitrust immunity with Air France, Alitalia and CSA.
The DOT's decision will enable the carriers to expand their transatlantic networks by coordinating schedules and services with a single, customer-focused objective.
Northwest Airlines President and CEO Doug Steenland said, "Today's decision by DOT is a win for our customers, employees, and the communities we serve. The expanded SkyTeam alliance activities will lead to more convenient service for our customers with shorter travel times, expanded growth opportunities for the airline which equates to more stability and job security for our own employees, and more nonstop transatlantic flight options for the communities we serve."
Today's approval follows the new U.S.-European Union Open Skies agreement that took effect on March 30, 2008, which promotes competition among rival alliances and benefits customers through enhanced service options. The ATI approval is also expected to lead to increased capacity for transatlantic flights.
Steenland praised several elected officials who helped secure the approval on behalf of the constituents they serve. "We thank U.S. Senator Norm Coleman and his colleagues Senators Klobuchar, Alexander and Corker, Governor Pawlenty, and Congressman Oberstar, for their continuous support throughout this application process. The success of these efforts will promote the availability of high quality international air service, as well as more stable employment and growth opportunities at Northwest's hubs in Minnesota, Tennessee and Michigan," said Steenland.
Steenland also thanked the labor groups who filed pleadings in support of the antitrust immunity application with the DOT, including the Northwest chapters of the Air Line Pilots Association, the Association of Flight Attendants, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers and the Transport Workers Union.
Gaining ATI approval was a critical component for Northwest's current international service offerings, including the new nonstop service launched yesterday between Minneapolis/St. Paul and Paris. ATI will now allow for closer cooperation with Air France/KLM for the Paris service. Northwest's new service to London's Heathrow airport from Minneapolis/St. Paul, Detroit and Seattle was also dependent on its cooperative arrangement with KLM, which the expanded alliance will further strengthen.
Northwest Airlines is one of the world's largest airlines with hubs at Detroit, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Memphis, Tokyo and Amsterdam, and approximately 1,400 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 1,000 cities in excess of 160 countries on six continents.
SOURCE: Northwest Airlines
Northwest Airlines

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