Northwest Airlines Expands Code-Share Service With Continental Airlines And Japan Air System

MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL – (June 5) – Northwest Airlines announced today that it will expand Asia/Pacific code-share service significantly with Continental Airlines and introduce new North America-Japan code-share service with Japan Air System (JAS) this summer. The expansion includes nine new code-share services with Continental and five new routes with JAS.

Effective July 16, Continental will begin code-share service on Northwest’s daily Los Angeles-Osaka, Los Angeles-Tokyo and Seattle-Tokyo round-trip services. In addition, Northwest and Continental will file for government approval to add code-share service later this summer in the following U.S.-Japan markets: (Continental operated) Houston-Tokyo, (Northwest operated) Seattle-Osaka, Minneapolis/St. Paul-Osaka, Honolulu-Osaka, Detroit-Nagoya and Las Vegas-Tokyo.

Northwest and Continental currently operate code-share service in the following markets: (Continental operated) Newark-Tokyo, (Northwest operated) New York (JFK)-Tokyo, San Francisco-Tokyo, Detroit-Osaka, Tokyo-Bangkok, Tokyo-Singapore and Tokyo-Seoul.

The entry of JAS to the North America-Japan market will include new code-share service beginning July 1 on Northwest’s daily round-trip service to Tokyo from New York, Seattle, San Francisco and Los Angeles. In addition, Northwest will begin code-sharing on JAS’ connecting service between Osaka and Sapporo, Japan. Northwest operates nonstop service to Osaka’s Kansai International Airport from Detroit, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Seattle, Los Angeles and Honolulu.

The new code-share service will give JAS its first on-line service to the United States and allows Northwest and Continental to expand code-share flights under terms of the U.S.-Japan aviation agreement.

“We are pleased to increase code-share service with partners Continental and JAS,” said Douglas Birdsall, Northwest senior vice president-alliances. “The expansion with Continental will give Northwest customers new Houston-Tokyo service and offer Continental customers new on-line service in eight trans-Pacific markets. The Japan Air System expansion will give Northwest customers new service to Sapporo and provide JAS its first on-line service to the United States.”

Code-share service provides “seamless” travel for passengers including issuance of all boarding passes at initial check-in, through luggage transfers and convenient flight connections. In addition, members of Northwest’s WorldPerks frequent flyer program can earn and redeem travel awards on all Continental and JAS flights.

Northwest and Continental became alliance partners in January, 1998 and operate extensive code-share service in the United States, Latin America and the Pacific. They have reciprocal frequent flyer and airport lounge programs.

Northwest and Japan Air System began their partnership in November, 1997 with reciprocal frequent flyer programs. They introduced code-share service to Fukuoka and Okinawa on Aug. 7, 1999. JAS, based in Tokyo, operates more domestic routes in Japan than any other carrier.

Minnesota-based Northwest has served Asia for 53 years and operates an extensive schedule to 15 major cities in the Asia/Pacific region. The airline operates a large hub at Tokyo’s Narita International Airport and provides the most service in the U.S.-Osaka market.