Both Delta Air Lines and Northwest Airlines have received tentative approval from the U.S. Department of Transportation to provide services to China.

Northwest Airlines' bid to provide new nonstop service between Detroit and Shanghai has been tentatively approved effective March 25, 2009.

"This is a great development for travelers who need convenient nonstop service between the U.S. and China. We're pleased with the DOT's decision which clearly serves the DOT's stated goals of enhancing competition and providing travelers with a diversity of choices that maximize public benefits," said Doug Steenland, Northwest president and chief executive officer. "We're grateful to the 136,000 Northwest customers, corporate clients, partners, elected officials and employees who wrote in support of our bid. I would like to also thank the U.S. Government for its success in negotiating the new air service agreement that made today's announcement possible."

Northwest's WorldGateway hub at Detroit is the largest U.S. gateway to Asia of any U.S. airline, offering a broad network of coverage from more than 100 U.S. cities. Detroit lies on the Great Circle route and is geographically well located to serve the most U.S. cities with efficient connections and shortest trip times to China.

Delta Air Lines is poised to add nonstop flights between the world's largest airline hub in Atlanta and Shanghai, China, effective March 30, 2008.

"We applaud Secretary Peters and the Department of Transportation for recognizing that nonstop Delta flights between Atlanta and Shanghai will bring more value to airline customers than any competing route application," said Delta Chief Executive Officer Richard Anderson. "Delta's new flights to China will fill a critical void in air travel today by providing the 65 million residents of the Southeast with direct access to the world's fastest growing economy."

Nearly 70,000 people supported Delta's application to serve Shanghai from Atlanta, including more than 80 federal, state and local officials; and more than 80 companies, airports, business, tourism and professional organizations.