MINNEAPOLIS -- Northwest Airlines Inc. remains committed to Japan despite the prolonged recession and the fallout from the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, and is busy expanding operations at Narita airport, executives of the airline said.

Northwest plans to fly 184 times a week out of Japan during the peak traveling period this summer; 149 of those flights will take off from Narita -- the most ever for Northwest.

Northwest has made more flights between Japan and the United States than any other airline, and has just doubled the number of flights on the Narita-Detroit route from seven a week to 14, taking advantage of its new state-of-the-art terminal in Detroit.