p32 air nov21 v2 18/11/08 13:36 Page 32
Air
Chris Gray
020 7921 8003
cgray@ttglive.com
For the latest news about flights, airlines and airports, visit
ttglive.com/air
Northwest to
axe Seattle link
NORTHWEST Airlines’ direct Heathrow-Seattle
service, one of the first open-skies flights started
earlier this year, is being scrapped because the
downturn in the US has made the link unviable.
The flight, which was operated in a joint
venture with KLM, will be scrapped on January
8, just seven months after it started.
Northwest merged with Delta in October
and the axing of the route was announced as part
of a reorganisation of the two airline’s networks
to focus more on their hub airports, such as
Northwest’s bases at Minneapolis and Detroit.
The Heathrow-Seattle service aimed to
capitalise on business links between London and
big companies based in Seattle, as well as leisure
travellers visiting the US north-west and Canada.
A Delta spokesman said a point-to-point serv-
ice between Heathrow and Seattle might have
attracted enough traffic in a buoyant economy
but it had been suffering since the downturn.
Continental eyes
Northwest said passengers due to travel after
January 8 would be offered alternative flights
or a refund. The carrier is also scrapping its
Gatwick-Detroit service from January 11.
Heathrow growth
Chris Gray.
factors on its UK-US routes were similar to those
CONTINENTAL Airlines is on the search for an- this time last year, which he said was “excellent”
other slot at Heathrow after launching its third given the economic crisis in the US.
daily flight between the airport and New York. However, he said the full impact of the
Senior UK director Bob Schumacher said downturn in the US and Europe would not be felt
Continental would be interested in buying until January because customers booked their
another slot at Heathrow if it were available at flights months in advance.
the right time and price. He hopes Continental’s business travel
Continental has now pulled out of Gatwick bookings will be helped by the introduction of
for this winter season after being allowed into fully lie-flat beds next summer, starting with its
WTM report
Heathrow under the Open Skies agreement Boeing 777 aircraft, and then on 757s.
between the EU and US signed in March. Continental is on course to complete its
It is still officially committed to a summer-only transfer from the Skyteam Alliance, which
Gatwick-Cleveland service but, speaking to TTG includes Delta and Northwest, who have now
at WTM, Schumacher said the airline’s future was merged, to Star Alliance by next autumn.
CONTINENTAL LIFT: Continental Airlines’ at Heathrow. Continental now operates three
Matt Pitman (left) hands two Bristol-New daily departures to New York and two to
WTM report
York Newark tickets to Andy Fountain, Houston, and Schumacher said it was in the
general manager of Cadogan Travel in market for buying more.
Bob Schumacher was one of the
Poole. Fountain is the first winner of “We continue to see what is available as we
industry leaders interviewed
at TTG’s WTM stand. To see video
Continental’s autumn booking incentive. are now really sold on Heathrow,” he said.
of all the interviews, go to
ttglive.com/wtm/video
A second draw is due on December 1. Schumacher said Continental’s current load
32 21.11.2008
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