Northwest eyes more Narita slots; demand seen easing
Bloomberg News
Wednesday, July 11, 2001
TOKYO -- Northwest Airlines Corp., the biggest foreign carrier in Japan, is bidding for more landing rights at the country's biggest international airport as it tries to
expand flights to Asia.
The fourth-biggest U.S. carrier wants the extra slots at Tokyo's Narita airport in part to link the hub to more airports in the region, Northwest CEO Richard Anderson
told a news conference in Tokyo.
"We would utilize those slots most likely to increase services to other points in Asia," Anderson said, declining to say how many extra rights the airline is seeking.
Eagan-based Northwest Airlines holds 12 percent of Narita's slots behind Japan Airlines Co., which holds 25 percent, but ahead of Japan's No. 2 airline, All Nippon
Airways Co., with 8 percent. Northwest is hoping to press its case for new slots even as slowing economic growth begins to cut demand.
"We are seeing some softness here in Japan," Anderson said, adding that the drop in demand growth "has been greater in the U.S."
The opening next May of Narita's first new runway will add 50 percent to existing capacity. That will give Japanese and overseas carriers their first big chance to add
flights since the airport opened in 1978, raising competition for passengers.
Northwest's rivals for the extra slots include Japan Airlines, Asia's biggest airline, and All Nippon, among others. All Nippon, the country's largest domestic carrier,
said last month that it wants to make Narita the base for expanded international operations, including as much as tripling its overseas flights.
Narita said it is the world's second-largest international cargo hub, and ranks eighth in passenger numbers.
Rival AMR Corporation's American Airlines said last week that it wants to get new access at Narita, and plans to open a new route in May between Tokyo and New
York City.
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