Northwest Cancels Some Transatlantic Flights

I wonder how long it will be before we start seeing small-to-medium size cities lose all of its air service?

I know there is some concern at a couple Central Texas airports - Waco primarily - that they will be without carriers before too long because the airlines can't afford to keep flying there.

 

With who? And what? I don't know much about the Twin Cities, but is there a particular reason for a Minneapolis-Beijing connection?

 

NWA has a tradition of this service (they were known as Northwest Orient Airlines for a long, long time).
It's efficient. They fly over the pole from Minny, and make good time.
And there's a whole lot of new business going on in Beijing and environs.

 

Thanks for the clarification. I actually learning something from that. Did not know they flew over the pole.

 

Here's a good illustration if you're interested:

http://www.boeing.com/commercial/aeromagazine/aero_16/polar_fig1.html

Back on topic: NWA was only using 757s to cross the pond from BDL. That should tell you something about demand, since the 757 is about the smallest commercial aircraft used to get to Europe.

 

Northwest. When I first heard about it, I said, "Through LA?" and he told me it was direct, which stunned the hell out of me.

I think there is only one or two each way per week, but still, that's a non-stop flight I never thought I'd see...

 

Didn't know NWA did MSP-Beijing direct.

The Detroit-Tokyo-Beijing (and Guangzhou-Tokyo-Detroit) flights I was on a month and a half ago were jammed 747s.

 

You are right. Nonstop to Tokyo, is the first step.
And it'll run you about $1800.

 

I'm flying direct from Minneapolis to London (on NWA) later this year for the Sconnie honeymoon. It's in September, and since the first flights NWA cut were in October, I feel pretty safe, but still a little nervous.

 

If you're ticketed, you'll get there. Even if they cut the flight, they'll put you on another one of theirs or a partner (you might have to fly to JFK to go on Delta, for instance.) And congratulations in advance!

 

They have to accommodate you if the flight is dropped.