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Northwest Airlines Launches Nonstop Service to Shanghai from Detroit

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Northwest Airlines has inaugurated a twice-weekly nonstop passenger service from Detroit to Shanghai, marking the first time nonstop passenger service has been offered to China's financial and industrial capital from a major U.S. market east of the Mississippi River. The 14-hour flight cuts the travel time to Shanghai by five hours for more than half of the United States. This new service further establishes Detroit as a gateway to China and all of Asia for not only Michigan and the Midwest but for the entire eastern and southeastern United States.

Key Takeaways:

  • Northwest Airlines has launched twice-weekly nonstop passenger service from Detroit to Shanghai, marking the first time nonstop passenger service has been offered to China's financial and industrial capital from a major U.S. market east of the Mississippi River.
  • The flight cuts the travel time to Shanghai by five hours for more than half of the United States.
  • The service further establishes Detroit as a gateway to China and all of Asia for not only Michigan and the Midwest but for the entire eastern and southeastern United States.
  • Shanghai, China's industrial capital, has 17 million people and is growing rapidly, emerging as an aviation market on the scale of Hong Kong, Singapore, and Tokyo over the next 25 years.
  • Northwest Airlines Cargo has been operating twice-weekly dedicated 747 freighters on the Detroit-Shanghai route since November 1999, with 100% cargo capacity utilization during the peak season in November and December.
  • The airline has applied for two more U.S.-Shanghai cargo frequencies and three more Beijing and Shanghai passenger frequencies for service beginning in April 2001.
  • Governor John Engler of Michigan and Mayor Dennis Archer of Detroit welcomed the new service, citing its potential to boost trade and tourism between the two regions.
  • Northwest has a well-developed and expanding code-sharing partnership with Air China, the country's flag carrier and largest international airline.
  • The partnership operates codeshare flights on four different routes, including Detroit to Beijing, Detroit to Shanghai, Los Angeles to Shanghai, and San Francisco to Shanghai.

Statistics:

  • 14-hour flight from Detroit to Shanghai, cutting travel time by five hours for more than half of the United States.
  • 17 million people in Shanghai, China's industrial capital, making it a significant market for trade and tourism.
  • 250,000 tourists expected to travel between the two countries this year, with a growing demand for cargo transportation.
  • 100% cargo capacity utilization during the peak season in November and December.
  • 95% cargo capacity utilization since November 1999.
  • Northwest Airlines has applied for two more U.S.-Shanghai cargo frequencies and three more Beijing and Shanghai passenger frequencies for service beginning in April 2001.

Sources:

  • M2 PressWIRE, "Northwest Airlines: Northwest Airlines inaugurates Detroit-Shanghai service" (April 6, 2000).
  • Northwest Airlines Media Relations, Tel: +1 612 726 2331.
  • zdNews.com, "Northwest Airlines' nwa.com chosen as best airline web site" (1999).
  • Internet World magazine, "Top 500 sites" (1999).

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