Independence Air Planning to Fly into Albany Airport

January 9, 2004

Independence Air Planning to Fly into Albany Airport
Albany Business Review, NY

Low-fare airline Independence Air will make Albany International Airport one of 
its 50 destinations when it begins flying in the late spring. 

"We have definitely said we intend to include Albany as part of the plan," said 
Independence Air spokesman Rick DeLisi. 

Albany International Airport officials haven't been officially told that the 
new airline will fly to Albany but is going ahead on the assumption that Albany 
will be in the Independence Air route plan, said airport spokesman Doug Myers. 

"We are making plans as if they were coming here," he said. 

Independence Air is being spun-off by Dulles, Va.-based Atlantic Coast Airlines 
Holdings Inc. 

The startup has been talking about the financial arrangements involved in 
renting ticketing space and gate space, Myers said. 

The new airline was formally announced on Nov. 19. At that time airline 
officials said the new airline would begin offering flights from its base at 
Washington Dulles International Airport in the late spring. 

Airline officials said they would announce destination cities approximately 60 
days prior to the first day of service. 

Albany is one of 89 potential destinations listed on the Independence Air Web 
site at www.flyi.com. 

The company is also holding back information on its fare structure and 
marketing plan, although it is promising a "simple low-fare pricing system." 

Sample Independence Air fares from Washington Dulles International Airport to 
Pittsburgh range from $47 to $107. 

The company has announced plans to order 25 Airbus A 319 and A320 aircraft that 
will be the backbone of a fleet of 112 jets, including 87 regional jet 
aircraft. 

Atlantic Coast Airlines is currently operating as United Express and Delta 
Connection in the eastern and midwestern United States and Canada. The company 
has a fleet of 120 regional jets, employs 4,600 people and serves 84 
destinations. 

Independence Air will formally launch when the Atlantic Coast Airlines is 
released from contractual obligations to United as part of the United Airlines 
bankruptcy proceedings, according to the company. 

Atlantic Coast's plans for Independence Air were threatened in October when 
Mesa Air Group Inc. (NASDAQ:MESA) considered a plan to take over Atlantic Air 
and continue the United feeder airline operation. In December, though, Mesa Air 
Group announced it would not move forward with the takeover bid. 



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