SOURCE: Aloha Airlines http://www.alohaairlines.com/aq/pressrel/Press010904.shtml HONOLULU ? Aloha Airlines has today submitted an application to the U.S. Department of Transportation to provide direct service between close-in Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) in the Nation?s Capital and John Wayne Airport (SNA), Orange County, California, and Hawaii. The new route would provide the only nonstop service between the three Washington, D.C. area airports and Orange County. In addition, it would provide continuing single-plane service between the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area and Hawaii, via Aloha existing service between Orange County and Hawaii. Aloha?s application seeks to take advantage of new slots and long-haul route opportunities into DCA that the DOT can award; these new opportunities were enacted by Congress last year in the Vision 100 Aviation Reauthorization Act. ?Aloha is very excited about the opportunity to provide the traveling public with the convenience of direct service between our nation?s Capital, Orange County and Hawaii,? said Glenn R. Zander, Aloha Airlines President and Chief Executive Officer. ?Clearly, this proposed service will be especially beneficial to business and leisure travelers who prefer to fly during the morning or evening hours in order to maximize their day.? Aloha?s new DCA-Orange County-Honolulu flights will begin July 1, 2004, assuming the DOT regulatory proceeding is completed by June. In its application, Aloha proposes to provide two daily nonstop flights between DCA and John Wayne Airport. A morning flight would depart Ronald Reagan Airport at 8 a.m. and arrive in Orange County at 10:45 a.m. The flight would continue to Honolulu International Airport, departing Orange County at 11:50 a.m. and arrive in Honolulu at 2:52 p.m. A second evening flight would depart Washington, D.C. at 5:05 p.m. and arrive at John Wayne at 7:50 p.m. The flight would continue on, departing Orange County at 8:55 p.m. and arrive in Honolulu at 11:57 p.m. The first flight would make its return overnight, departing Honolulu 10:51 p.m. Orange County at 8:05 a.m. the next morning, and arrive in Washington, D.C. at 4 p.m. The second flight would depart Honolulu at 7:15 a.m., Orange County at 4:30 p.m. and arrive in the nation?s Capital at 12:25 a.m. In its filing to the DOT, Aloha noted that it is a unique niche carrier, which provides essential transportation services within the islands of Hawaii and between the State, the South/Central Pacific, the West Coast and Canada. It said the current situation provides Aloha and the DOT with a unique opportunity to provide (1) new service to the DCA area, (2) expand and diversify competition with the inclusion of a brand new but proven player, and (3) enhance transportation services to the flying public in several important, heavy-traffic flight corridors. Aloha Airlines is Hawaii?s leading provider of interisland air transportation services for passengers, cargo and contract services. The airline has operated in Hawaii since 1946. Aloha?s sister airline, Island Air, provides daily service between Honolulu and smaller airports on Maui, Molokai and Lanai. Aloha also operates daily transpacific flights between Hawaii and California, Arizona, Nevada and Canada; and daily flights between Reno and Orange County, Phoenix and Orange County, Sacramento and Burbank, Las Vegas and Burbank, and Las Vegas and Oakland. Aloha also serves the Pacific, providing service to Majuro and Kwajalein in the Marshall Islands, Rarotonga in the Cook Islands, and Pago Pago in American Samoa. Aloha Airgroup Inc., the parent company of Aloha Airlines and Island Air, is a $450 million Hawaii-based aviation services corporation. Founded in 1946, Aloha is Hawaii's largest provider of air transportation services. -- David Mueller / MRY dmueller7@xxxxxxxxx http://www.quanterium.com