Washington, June, 13, 2002—Air Transport Association (ATA) President and CEO Carol Hallett informed the association’s board of directors today of her intention to step down as the group’s chief executive, effective April 30, 2003. Hallett was named president and CEO on April 3, 1995 to lead the U.S. airline industry’s largest and oldest trade association. When Hallett became the association’s president and CEO in 1995, U.S. scheduled airlines carried 548 million passengers and 17 billion ton miles of cargo. ATA membership consisted of 20 U.S. member airlines and three foreign-flag associate members. Under her stewardship, ATA membership has grown to 22 U.S. member airlines and four foreign-flag associate members. In 2001, volumes had increased to 622 million passengers and 22 billion ton miles of cargo.

In making today’s announcement, Hallett stated, “It has been an honor to serve ATA, our members and the aviation community, and I am proud of the many worthy endeavors that we have accomplished for the betterment of commercial aviation. I still have much work to do at ATA, over the next 10 months, as significant challenges lie ahead for our industry.” Hallett continued, “Although my retirement from ATA in mid-2003 will enable me to devote more time to my family, particularly at our farm in Virginia where gardening is my number-one pastime, I will continue to make myself available to the aviation community as an advisor and consultant.”

Prior to joining ATA in 1995, Hallett had a distinguished career in public service and politics. In 1989, she was appointed by President George H.W. Bush to serve as U.S. Customs Service Commissioner, where she directed a workforce of 20,000 employees and was recognized by the airline industry for her efforts to modernize the Customs Service. Prior to her tenure at the Customs Service, Mrs. Hallett also served as U.S. Ambassador to the Bahamas and as Director of the U.S. Interior Department`s Western Region during the Reagan Administration. Previously, she served three terms in the California State Assembly, and from 1979 to 1982, was the Assembly Minority Leader. In 1982, Mrs. Hallett was the California Republican Party`s nominee for Lt. Governor. Hallett is a licensed pilot with more than 5,000 hours of pilot-in-command time and experience in single- and multi-engine aircraft, turboprops and business jets.

The ATA Board of Directors has indicated its intention to retain an executive search firm to begin the process of selecting a successor.

The Air Transport Association of America, Inc. is the trade association for leading U.S. airlines. ATA members transport over 95 percent of all the passenger and cargo traffic in the United States.

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