Northwest Airlink's flight from Detroit roared into the University Park Airport about noon yesterday. After the two propellers came to rest, three passengers exited the plane and 15 Detroit-bound travelers prepared to board flight 3093 as the airline kicked off its nonstop service to Detroit.

"Today marks the beginning of a lasting, successful relationship between our airline and the State College area," Doug Fulton, public relations director for Mesaba Aviation Inc., said in a news release. "Our new service will give passengers from State College the opportunity to connect at Detroit to over 400 daily departures on Northwest Airlines and Northwest Airlink."

Charles Welch, terminal manager of the Centre County Airport Authority, welcomed Northwest's service during the event's ribbon-cutting ceremony yesterday afternoon.

"We're delighted about this type of service," he said.

Robert Dannaker, airport manager, said the addition of a third airline will provide customers with more route choices. He added that the increased competition could cause the price of air fares to decrease.

Dannaker said he expects Northwest's service to bring more customers to the airport and does not think the other airlines will lose customers.

The University's incorporation into the Big Ten conference was one of the airline's reasons for coming to State College. Northwest may now lay claim to being the unofficial Big Ten airline because it provides services to all 11 conference cities.

"Our route system is very compatible to that of the Big Ten system," Fulton said at the ceremony.

Northwest Airlink, which is operated by Mesaba Aviation Inc. of Minneapolis, provides connecting service to Northwest Airlines flights at its Detroit and Minneapolis/St. Paul hubs.

The commuter airline offers service to 52 cities in 16 states across the northwest and operates under a marketing agreement with Northwest Airlines. The two airlines coordinate flight schedules, fares and marketing programs.

The airline will operate three daily round-trip flights between the University Park Airport and the Detroit Metropolitan Airport.

The three flights to Detroit are scheduled to depart daily at 6:45 a.m., 12:40 p.m. and 7:05 p.m. The three flights from Detroit to State College depart at 10:40 a.m., 4:50 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.

The three flights from State College are provided by Mesaba's newest aircraft, the 37-seat de Havilland Dash 8. The airplanes feature standing head room, a bathroom, in-flight service and a storage room. The red airplanes bear Northwest Airlink's name and logo.

Fulton said a round-trip ticket to Detroit costs about $150. Snacks and beverages are provided on the hour-and-a-half flight.

Northwest Airlink offers a different route structure than the other commuter airlines at the airport. USAir Express flies to Baltimore, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. United Express Airlines offers flights from State College to Harrisburg and Washington's Dulles airport.

The University Park Airport, which is owned and managed by the University, is currently waiting for Federal Aviation Administration approval to lengthen its runway to accommodate bigger aircraft.

Dannaker said the FAA is studying the runway's environmental impact and a decision could come at the end of the month.