=20 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- This article was sent to you by someone who found it on SFGate. The original article can be found on SFGate.com here: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=3D/news/archive/2004/09/14/f= inancial0818EDT0028.DTL --------------------------------------------------------------------- Tuesday, September 14, 2004 (AP) Northwest joins alliance with other airlines (09-14) 05:18 PDT EAGAN, Minn. (AP) -- Northwest Airlines Corp. has joined a nine-airline alliance in hopes of easing competition from low-fare domestic rivals and expanding its route network in more than 130 countries. The SkyTeam alliance allow airlines to sell seats on flights operated by their partners, thus attracting more passengers without having to invest in new planes or develop new routes. Northwest's SkyTeam membership builds on its existing alliance relationships with KLM, Continental Airlines Inc. and Delta Air Lines Inc. Now, in addition to those carriers, Northwest passengers can book trips on Air France, Alitalia, Aeromexico, Czech Airlines and Korean Airlines. With the expansion of the SkyTeam alliance, about 341 million passengers are expected to fly on SkyTeam airlines to 658 global destinations. The nine carriers have 14,320 daily departures. Alliance relationships can pay off. Last year, Northwest's operating revenue reached close to $10 billion, a= nd Northwest's partnership with KLM, which has an antitrust exemption on flights between the United States and Europe, contributes about $1 billion a year. Previously, Northwest estimated that its marketing partnership with Continental, which began in 1998, adds $125 million to $150 million a year to the airline's bottom line. The Delta alliance, launched last year, is expected to contribute about $100 million a year. Company officials declined Monday to estimate what financial impact the SkyTeam alliance will have on Northwest's revenue. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright 2004 AP