Northwest Airlines to operate Heathrow-US flights

Northwest Airlines announced an expansion of its transatlantic route network under the new Open Skies aviation deal. In cooperation with its joint venture partner, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, NWA will next year operate three daily non-stop flights from London Heathrow to Detroit, Minneapolis and Seattle. This will be the first US carrier to introduce flights between Heathrow and the United States over the past 17 years. Currently, the carriers allowed to operate direct flights on the route are British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, United Airlines and American Airlines.

Open Skies agreement between EU and America, which is coming into effect in March 2008, will liberalize transatlantic air space and would allow many airlines to start offering flights on various routes between Europe and US, and will open a lot of opportunities for passengers and holidaymakers.