For Immediate Release: October 22, 2002 Robert Goldberg, President CONQUEST VACATIONS – A CANADIAN TRAVEL SUCCESS STORY Expanded World-Wide Service, New Aircraft and Positive Growth (Toronto) Today, Conquest Vacations, Canada's largest independent tour operator, announced a major expansion in air service to meet travel demand to Canadian cities, sun destinations and beyond. A new program to Florida, and scheduled service to Hawaii and Europe for later this year was outlined. To mark the expanded service, Conquest and it's airline operating partner, Skyservice Airlines, will add four new aircraft, by Christmas of this year and two more in Spring 2003 to the existing fleet of five aircraft. This increase, to 11 aircraft, brings the total value of Conquest's expansion to $1.2 billion dollars (Cdn) over 5 years. Conquest Vacations is also the first Canadian Tour Operator to have their corporate identity displayed on dedicated aircraft under a joint branding agreement with Skyservice Airlines. Under this new agreement all dedicated aircraft will be painted with the new Conquest livery. "We are experiencing positive growth in a planned and viable way," said Robbie Goldberg, President, Conquest Vacations. "We have been conservative in our business planning to ensure we do not over extend ourselves. The expansion plans take into consideration current market conditions, and responds to a demand for more specific destinations. Canadians are travelling and there remains a demand for more choice at competitive prices. We are not new at this. Conquest has been in the business of providing air service and package holidays to Canadians for over 30 years." Last February Conquest announced a new domestic service following the bankruptcy of Canada 3000. That program became a huge success for the company. "We are now carrying more passengers between points in Canada than we did with Canada 3000 and we were their biggest independent customer" said Goldberg, citing that Conquest's overall load factors are averaging 91%. "To follow up this success we expect to more than double our capacity next summer". Conquest will continue their domestic program throughout the winter servicing Toronto, Halifax, St. John's, Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver. Conquest's current fleet consists of four A320's with 180 seats and one A319 with 144 seats. By Christmas, Conquest along with Skyservice, will add 3 brand new A319's and one A330 with 387 seats. The fleet will be the most modern in the industry. By Spring 2003 Conquest will add two additional transatlantic capable aircraft. In addition to a full service in-flight offering, all planes will be fitted with new leather seats over the next six-months. Conquest's new Florida program starts November 2nd and will offer 14 flights per week. In high season they will operate five flights per week to each of Fort Lauderdale and St. Petersburg and four per week to Orlando. Prices start at $199 round-trip. Hotel packages are also being offered along with Conquest's flights to Florida. Beginning in December, the new wide-body A330 aircraft will be utilized for Conquest's new Hawaii program. Four non-stop flights per week will operate from Vancouver and Calgary to Honolulu and Maui. All flights are daytime flights and a wide variety of hotel packages are being offered in conjunction with the new flights. On November 1, Conquest will announce details of a new transatlantic program to the United Kingdom. The new program will utilize the A330 aircraft as well as two additional aircraft to be added to the fleet this spring. Transatlantic flights will be operated from Halifax, Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver. Conquest has also expanded service to the Caribbean, Mexico, Central America and the Unites States. Conquest offers departures to sun destinations from Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto, Moncton, Halifax, St. John's and most recently Windsor, Ontario. Destinations being served from Windsor include: St. Maarten, St. Kitts, St. Barts, Punta Cana, Varadero and Havana in the Caribbean, as well as Cancun and Cozumel in Mexico. Flights from this new gateway begin on December 23rd. Skyservice Airlines, Conquest's airline provider, is Canada's number one requested airline for the charter industry. The airline has an enviable reputation for its quality of service, state-of-the-art equipment and outstanding on time performance. All flights will continue to be full service featuring in-flight movies, full meals and advance seat selection. All of Conquest's dedicated airplanes will be equipped with leather seats throughout. "We are delighted to serve as the airline operating partner to Conquest Vacations for this expanded venture and to be a part of their growing success," said Russell Payson, President and CEO of Skyservice Airlines. Conquest Vacations was established in 1972 by its owner and President, Robbie Goldberg. Under Goldberg's direction, Conquest has become Canada's largest independent tour operator flying almost one million passengers annually. Corporate headquarters are located in Toronto with marketing and sales offices in Halifax and Vancouver. _________________________________________________________________ Get faster connections -- switch to MSN Internet Access! http://resourcecenter.msn.com/access/plans/default.asp