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FARES FROM CHATTANOOGA DROP WITH DELTA'S NEW LOW FAIR INITIATIVE

Airline's transformation plan gives Chattanooga travelers lower everyday fares by more than 10%

Contact:  Christina Siebold, Manager of Community Relations;
Telephone 423-855-2234; or e-mail at csiebold@chattairport.com

(January 5, 2005) – Delta Air Lines’ nationwide implementation of their SimpliFares program has lowered many fares from the Chattanooga Airport literally overnight. Not a sale or promotion, Delta says their SimpliFares are part of the airline’s transformation plan which promises to offer customers easy, accessible and reliable prices every day. The program includes: • Reducing certain unrestricted coach fares up to 50 percent • No one way coach fare higher than $499 • No Saturday night stay requirements • Reduced ticket change fee from $100 to $50

“Delta has heard from communities like Chattanooga about the need to price more competitively, and they have responded with SimpliFares,” said Mike Landguth, President and CEO of the Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport Authority. “The entire airline industry is working to simplify and lower their fares, a move that makes the five-hour round trip excursion to a neighboring airport unnecessary for local passengers. These developments are changing the travel paradigm for our community. ”

“A key to increasing the use of our airport is making sure that we offer our citizens low and competitive fares,” said Mayor Bob Corker. “I applaud Delta’s introduction of this new fare structure which is a huge step toward enhancing air service in Chattanooga.”

While the new lower fares will benefit all local passengers, the biggest fare reductions can be seen in the last-minute walk-up fares used by business travelers. Since the plan was implemented Wednesday morning, the walk-up fares to 23 of Chattanooga’s top 25 destinations dropped significantly.

"Delta's new low fare initiative sounds like a huge step in the right direction to encourage business travel through our local airport," said Tom Edd Wilson, president and CEO of the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce. "The prospect of much lower walk-up fares is particularly important to business travelers, who often have to fly on short notice."

For more information on SimpliFares or to book a ticket, go to www.delta.com.