"The deployment of the A330 across our
entire trans-Atlantic schedule ushers in a new era of passenger
comfort and in-flight service," said Phil Haan, executive vice
president of international, alliances and information technology and
chairman of NWA Cargo. "From seat comfort to in-flight
entertainment, our A330s provide customers with a travel experience
unmatched by any other U.S. airline and many of our international
competitors."
Yesterday's arrival of flight 55 from Amsterdam, which landed at Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport at 6:46 p.m. Central time, marked the retirement of the DC10 from scheduled international service at Northwest Airlines.
Most of Northwest’s trans-Atlantic schedule was already operated with A330s, but in June of this year the airline announced it would accelerate the retirement of the remaining DC10 aircraft in its fleet as it continued to take deliveries of new A330s.
Northwest began taking delivery of new Airbus A330 aircraft in Aug. 2003 and currently has 22 aircraft in trans-Atlantic, trans-Pacific and intra-Asia service. Its A330 fleet includes 11 298-seat A330-300s, and 11 longer-range, 243-seat A330-200s.
With an average fleet age of two years, Northwest's A330s are one of the youngest trans-Atlantic fleets in the airline industry. The airline has an additional 10 aircraft on order scheduled for delivery between now and the end of 2007.
While the airline's trans-Atlantic wide-body fleet will continue to consist entirely of Airbus A330s, in May 2007, Northwest will begin service on select trans-Atlantic routes with a fleet of standard-body Boeing 757 aircraft, specially-modified for international service.
A330 Provides Travelers with Better Seats, In-Flight Entertainment System
Northwest's A330s are equipped with the airline’s World Business Class lie-flat seats, new seats in economy class, and an in-flight entertainment (IFE) system in both cabins that Northwest was the first North American airline to offer.
The fully interactive IFE system offers travelers a choice of 40 movies, four short-subject video programs, 56 different audio selections, six games, shopping and in-flight information, all available "on demand," giving customers the freedom and flexibility to start, pause or stop their selection at any time. The gateway to all of these features is a convenient retractable controller, making it easy to access from any sitting position, as opposed to stationary controllers fixed on armrests.
In World Business Class, Northwest customers are able to view any of these features on a 10.4 inch/26.4 centimeter video screen, 50 percent larger in size than the screens found in business class seats on most other U.S. airlines, and a number of international airlines. Northwest customers traveling in economy class are able to view any of these features on a personal video screen located in the back of the seat in front of them.
World Business Class travelers enjoy an array of features including a seat that reclines 176 degrees (more recline than any other U.S. airline), a leather-wrapped privacy canopy, 60 inches of space between seats, 110-volt personal laptop computer power, cycling lumbar support, a six-way adjustable headrest that slides along a track so it can be adjusted to a traveler's height, and four seat-back storage pockets.
Northwest's A330s also feature a completely new economy class seat, offered in a two-seat, aisle, four-seat, aisle, two-seat configuration throughout much of the aircraft. As a result, no seat is more than one seat away from an aisle. The new economy seat, which offers more personal space than any other seat in the airline's fleet, features a "winged" headrest, with bendable sides, allowing the customer to rest their head or sleep toward the side of the seat.
A330 More Efficient, Quieter Aircraft than DC10
The A330 provides Northwest with up to 30 percent in fuel savings, lower maintenance costs, and is a much quieter aircraft than the DC10-30 it replaces. As an example, on the Minneapolis/St. Paul – Amsterdam route, the A330-300 will carry 29 more passengers, yet consume 6,100 fewer gallons (23,090 liters) of fuel each way, than the DC10.
Yesterday's arrival of flight 55 from Amsterdam, which landed at Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport at 6:46 p.m. Central time, marked the retirement of the DC10 from scheduled international service at Northwest Airlines.
Most of Northwest’s trans-Atlantic schedule was already operated with A330s, but in June of this year the airline announced it would accelerate the retirement of the remaining DC10 aircraft in its fleet as it continued to take deliveries of new A330s.
Northwest began taking delivery of new Airbus A330 aircraft in Aug. 2003 and currently has 22 aircraft in trans-Atlantic, trans-Pacific and intra-Asia service. Its A330 fleet includes 11 298-seat A330-300s, and 11 longer-range, 243-seat A330-200s.
With an average fleet age of two years, Northwest's A330s are one of the youngest trans-Atlantic fleets in the airline industry. The airline has an additional 10 aircraft on order scheduled for delivery between now and the end of 2007.
While the airline's trans-Atlantic wide-body fleet will continue to consist entirely of Airbus A330s, in May 2007, Northwest will begin service on select trans-Atlantic routes with a fleet of standard-body Boeing 757 aircraft, specially-modified for international service.
A330 Provides Travelers with Better Seats, In-Flight Entertainment System
Northwest's A330s are equipped with the airline’s World Business Class lie-flat seats, new seats in economy class, and an in-flight entertainment (IFE) system in both cabins that Northwest was the first North American airline to offer.
The fully interactive IFE system offers travelers a choice of 40 movies, four short-subject video programs, 56 different audio selections, six games, shopping and in-flight information, all available "on demand," giving customers the freedom and flexibility to start, pause or stop their selection at any time. The gateway to all of these features is a convenient retractable controller, making it easy to access from any sitting position, as opposed to stationary controllers fixed on armrests.
In World Business Class, Northwest customers are able to view any of these features on a 10.4 inch/26.4 centimeter video screen, 50 percent larger in size than the screens found in business class seats on most other U.S. airlines, and a number of international airlines. Northwest customers traveling in economy class are able to view any of these features on a personal video screen located in the back of the seat in front of them.
World Business Class travelers enjoy an array of features including a seat that reclines 176 degrees (more recline than any other U.S. airline), a leather-wrapped privacy canopy, 60 inches of space between seats, 110-volt personal laptop computer power, cycling lumbar support, a six-way adjustable headrest that slides along a track so it can be adjusted to a traveler's height, and four seat-back storage pockets.
Northwest's A330s also feature a completely new economy class seat, offered in a two-seat, aisle, four-seat, aisle, two-seat configuration throughout much of the aircraft. As a result, no seat is more than one seat away from an aisle. The new economy seat, which offers more personal space than any other seat in the airline's fleet, features a "winged" headrest, with bendable sides, allowing the customer to rest their head or sleep toward the side of the seat.
A330 More Efficient, Quieter Aircraft than DC10
The A330 provides Northwest with up to 30 percent in fuel savings, lower maintenance costs, and is a much quieter aircraft than the DC10-30 it replaces. As an example, on the Minneapolis/St. Paul – Amsterdam route, the A330-300 will carry 29 more passengers, yet consume 6,100 fewer gallons (23,090 liters) of fuel each way, than the DC10.