SCR18, As Adopted by Senate, August 30, 2007

            Senator Gilbert offered the following concurrent resolution:

            Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 18.

            A concurrent resolution to express support for Northwest Airlines' application to provide nonstop service to Shanghai and Beijing, China, from Detroit.

            Whereas, The United States and China reached an historic new air transport agreement on May 23, 2007, which provides for extensive new service opportunities to Shanghai and Beijing in the critical and underserved Chinese market. The United States Department of Transportation plans to award six new air routes to China between 2007 and 2009. Northwest Airlines has applied to fly nonstop from Detroit to Shanghai and from Detroit to Beijing; and

            Whereas, Northwest Airlines has proven its ability to serve the Asian market from Detroit Metropolitan Airport and its WorldGateway hub, the largest and most successful airline hub gateway to China. Detroit is the largest new U.S.-China gateway in terms of local traffic. Northwest Airlines currently flies 60,000 passengers a year on connecting flights to China out of Detroit and operates nonstop routes to several Japanese cities as well. The WorldGateway hub at Detroit, with its state-of-the-art terminal facility, offers broad coverage of the entire eastern half of the United States and would provide connecting service to China from more than 100 U.S. cities; and

            Whereas, The proposed China routes would serve key manufacturing and industrial interests in Michigan and the Midwest. The Wayne County Airport Authority estimates that Northwest Airlines' two new flights would generate more than $265 million annually in economic benefit to Southeast Michigan; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), That we urge the United States Department of Transportation to ensure that Michigan remains an important gateway to Asia by approving Northwest Airlines' application to provide nonstop service to Shanghai and Beijing, China, from Detroit; and be it further

            Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the United States Department of Transportation, the Federal Aviation Administration, and the members of the Michigan congressional delegation.