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See the Future Now at the Northwest Auto Show WorldClub; Virtual Reality Tour of New Terminal Showcases State-of-the-Art Facility

5 January 2001

See the Future Now at the Northwest Auto Show WorldClub; Virtual Reality Tour of New Terminal Showcases State-of-the-Art Facility

    DETROIT, Jan. 5 People come by the tens of thousands to
the North American International Auto Show every year to peer into the future
of auto industry; this year auto show visitors can see the future of air
travel as well through a dramatic virtual reality tour of the new terminal
currently under construction at Wayne County Metropolitan Airport.
Northwest Airlines will provide continuous screenings of the
virtual reality video in its Auto Show WorldClub facility operated right
inside Cobo Hall during the auto show.
    "This year Northwest Airlines will move into the best airport terminal in
the country," said Jim Greenwald, Northwest vice president - facilities and
airport affairs.  "Next year's auto show attendees will experience the reality
of that new facility, this year's visitors can get a sense of the coming
changes by taking this walk through cyberspace.  We think that once travelers
see this video, they'll be as excited about the new terminal as they are about
this year's concept cars."
    The new terminal at Metro consists of a main terminal with 66 jet aircraft
gates, connecting link, commuter concourse with 8 jet gates and 25 commuter
aircraft gates, an 11,000-space parking garage; an energy plant; a three level
roadway system; 180 acres of apron and taxiways.  The new facility will be
approximately 2 million square feet and 1 mile in length and features:

    -- 106 Ticketing Positions
    -- Luggage Check-In Positions in the Parking Garage
    -- 24 Curbside Check-In Positions
    -- Dual Loading Bridges for International Gates
    -- Loading Bridges for Commuter Gates
    -- International Arrivals and Reconnect in the Same Building
    -- 3,200 People Per Hour Federal Inspection Services Facility
    -- Two 200 Passenger Express Trams
    -- Wide 56" Moving Sidewalks in Concourse A
    -- 4 Northwest WorldClubs, 1 British Airways Club
    -- 125,000 SF of Up-Scale Concessions
    -- 11 Domestic and 7 International Luggage Carousels

    In December, Northwest will relocate its airport operations to the new
terminal.  The virtual reality tour uses computer animation to take viewers on
a moving tour of the gate areas, ticket counters, luggage carousels, trams,
shops and restaurants.  The video is narrated by members of the Northwest
project team that is overseeing the construction and includes comments by
Wayne County Airport's Executive Director Lester Robinson and Northwest
Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Richard Anderson.  The
video, which runs 10 minutes, will be played continuously throughout the auto
show.
    Northwest's WorldClub at the auto show is a fully functional WorldClub
facility staffed by Northwest WorldClub personnel and offers visitors to the
auto show a convenient place to refresh and conduct business.  Open to all
auto show visitors, the facility is located at Cobo hall just as you enter the
Auto Show (outside Wayne Hall).  Media representatives are encouraged to stop
by the WorldClub to obtain additional information about the new airport
terminal.
    Northwest Airlines is the world's fourth largest airline offering more
than 2,600 daily departures with hubs at Detroit, Minneapolis/St. Paul,
Memphis, Tokyo and Amsterdam.  With its travel partners, Northwest serves more
than 750 cities in more than 120 countries on 6 continents.  Based on
statistics compiled by the U.S. Department of Transportation, Northwest was
the most on-time U.S. airline among the seven largest network carriers for the
period 1990-1999.  Northwest is the 2000 recipient of Air Transport World
Airline Technology Management Award.  Northwest's WorldPerks frequent flyer
program is the highest rated U.S.-based program reviewed by InsideFlyer
Magazine, the leading authority on airline free travel programs, and received
the special "Industry Impact Award" during InsideFlyer's 12th Annual Freddie
Awards.  Northwest's http://www.nwa.com was chosen as best airline web site by
Gomez Advisors for Summer 2000 and was judged best in the best airline web
site category for both business and leisure travelers.