Press Release Source: Northwest Airlines


Northwest and China Southern Airlines Forge Strategic Partnership
Monday April 11, 1:12 pm ET
- Carriers' Customers Will Have More Ways to Earn and Redeem Frequent Flyer Miles, Access to More Airport Lounges


MINNEAPOLIS, April 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Northwest Airlines (Nasdaq: NWAC - News), China's longest-serving U.S. airline, and China Southern Airlines, the largest airline in the People's Republic of China, today announced a new partnership that will allow each of the carriers to offer their customers new benefits.

The carriers announced that beginning April 15, 2005, members of Northwest's WorldPerks frequent flyer program will be able to earn and redeem miles on flights operated by China Southern and marketed with the airline's two letter "CZ" code. At the same time, members of China Southern's Sky Pearl Club frequent flyer program will be able to earn and redeem miles on Northwest-operated flights that are marketed with Northwest's "NW" code.

"Our new partnership with China Southern builds on our established presence in China and provides our customers with seamless benefits on the most extensive domestic route network in China," said Gary Fishman, senior vice president of alliances at Northwest Airlines. "As the only U.S. airline serving Guangzhou, Northwest is able to offer unmatched access to China Southern's home airport, and we look forward to China Southern's eventual entry into the SkyTeam alliance of airlines."

Northwest and China Southern also announced a reciprocal airport lounge program, enabling eligible customers to access more lounges. Members of Northwest's WorldClubs program, customers flying World Business Class and WorldPerks members residing in Asia who have achieved Platinum Elite or Gold Elite status will enjoy access to any of China Southern's eight airport lounges located throughout China. Gold and Silver members of China Southern's Sky Pearl Club, as well as its first and business class customers, will be able to access any of Northwest's 22 WorldClubs.

"We are proud today to join hands with Northwest in this new marketing opportunity and lend significant new services to our customers," said Mr. Li Kun, executive vice president, China Southern Airlines. Mr. Li added that, "with more than 700 people joining our Sky Pearl Club every single day, we continued to look for expanded benefits and this new program with Northwest will meet that important need."

China Southern Airlines operates a modern, new fleet of more than 300 Airbus and Boeing aircraft -- is the largest operator of A320 aircraft in China -- and will be the first airline to operate the Superjumbo A380 aircraft prior to the start of the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympic Games. Additionally, China Southern is the only operator of 747-400 freighters in China.

Northwest, which first served China in 1947, has been serving the country continuously since 1984. Today, Northwest serves more cities in China than any other U.S. airline including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Hong Kong.

Northwest offers daily service to its Tokyo hub from both Beijing and Shanghai aboard its modern Airbus A330-200 (Beijing) and Boeing 747-400 (Shanghai) aircraft, featuring the airline's new World Business Class seat and on-demand in-flight entertainment system -- both of which offer comforts and features that exceed what's offered by any other U.S. airline and many international airlines.

Northwest also offers daily service from Guangzhou to its Tokyo hub. From Tokyo, travelers can make convenient single connections to eight top business and leisure destinations in the U.S., and additional connections to hundreds of destinations throughout the world.

Northwest flights are available for sale via the Internet at http://www.nwa.com , by telephone with Northwest Airlines Reservations at 1-800-447-4747 or through travel agencies.

NORTHWEST SERVES MORE OF ASIA

Northwest offers more flights between the U.S. and Japan and more flights within Asia than any other U.S. airline. The airline operates a hub from Tokyo's Narita Airport that connects the U.S. cities of Detroit, Honolulu, Los Angeles, Minneapolis/St. Paul, New York (JFK), Portland, Ore., San Francisco and Seattle to key destinations including Bangkok, Thailand; Beijing; Busan, South Korea; Guam; Guangzhou; Hong Kong; Manila, Philippines; Nagoya, Japan; Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands; Seoul, South Korea; Shanghai and Singapore. Northwest also offers nonstop service from Osaka, Japan to Detroit and Taipei, Taiwan, and from Nagoya to Detroit, Manila and Saipan.

ABOUT NORTHWEST AIRLINES

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. 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 900 cities in excess of 160 countries on six continents.

ABOUT CHINA SOUTHERN

The largest airline in The People's Republic of China for the past 13 years, China Southern Airlines -- http://www.cs-air.com/en -- connects more than 80 cities around the globe. Major business and vacation destinations served in China include: Beijing, Chengdu, Guangzhou, Guilin, Hong Kong, Kunming, Shanghai, Shenzhen and Wuhan and as well as international service, including: Amsterdam, Bangkok, Fukuoka, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Islamabad, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Los Angeles, Manila, Melbourne, Moscow, Osaka, Paris, Penang, Phnom Penh, Seoul, Singapore, Sydney and Tokyo.


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Source: Northwest Airlines