Continental-Northwest Fuels Regional Corp. Business

<B> Continental-Northwest Fuels Regional Corp. Business</B>

By Frank Rosci

<I>Minneapolis</I> - Local officials expect the alliance signed between Continental and Northwest to significantly boost air service on a regional basis and increase international business lift to the Midwest.

The alliance "should mean greater numbers of air travelers arriving and passing through the Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport, and more passengers at other hub cities, too, including Cleveland, Detroit and Houston," said a spokesman for Northwest. "It will be a growth and revenue creating engine for both airlines because it will allow them to serve cities they don't serve now. Continental, for example, doesn't serve Duluth, Minn., but now it can sell service there." If each airline were to serve 30 cities separately, he said, "30 times 30 would total 900 city pairings for both carriers."

On the international front, Minneapolis-based business travelers now have better access to Asian markets via Japan and more Asian visitors have smoother service to the Midwest--where there are tremendous business opportunities, said Jayne Buck, director of tourism for the Saint Paul Convention & Visitors Bureau.

According to Greg Ortale, president and CEO, Greater Minneapolis Convention & Visitors Association, "The pact could mean more Japanese visitors staying in the city's hotels and attending conventions."

Ortale also pointed out that Continental-Northwest also "will help open up the city to South America," referring to the former's extensive route network south of the U.S. border.