Delta Connection will offer customers the comfort and convenience of all-jet service at the Dallas/Ft. Worth hub beginning Aug. 1, 2003. With its August schedule, Delta Connection carrier Atlantic Southeast Airlines (ASA) will retire the remaining 30-passenger Embraer Brasilia turboprop aircraft serving Dallas/Ft. Worth.

“The decision to retire the Embraer Brasilia fleet is driven by ASA’s commitment to customer satisfaction, operational reliability, and by the overall enhanced economics associated with operating fewer types of aircraft,” said Sam Watts, ASA’s vice president - Planning and Development. “In today’s challenging economic environment, fleet simplification has gained an even greater priority. By removing older aircraft, we will create significant economic benefit as we eliminate training, maintenance and scheduling costs associated with the Brasilia fleet.

“We are confident that customers will respond enthusiastically to our streamlined, modern fleet consisting primarily of state-of-the-art 40-, 50- and 70-passenger Bombardier regional jets.”

Delta Connection will make schedule adjustments at the remaining airports where ASA will operate Brasilias this summer to accommodate the retirement schedule. A combination of Bombardier and Embraer regional jets operated by Delta Connection carriers ASA and Chautauqua Airlines will replace the remaining turboprops beginning June 1.

By August, customers in eight communities will enjoy new or increased regional jet service to the Dallas/Ft. Worth hub. The first-ever Delta Connection jet service will be added between Dallas/Ft. Worth and Columbus/Starkville/West Point (Golden Triangle Regional), Miss.; Alexandria and Lafayette, La.; and Tulsa, Okla. Jet service will be increased at Houston (Bush Intercontinental) and Houston (Hobby), Texas; Wichita, Kansas; Little Rock, Ark.; and Oklahoma City, Okla.

Delta Connection includes Delta’s (NYSE: DAL) wholly owned subsidiaries Atlantic Southeast Airlines and Comair, additional regional carriers Atlantic Coast Airlines, Chautauqua Airlines and SkyWest Airlines, and codeshare partner American Eagle (in California). Delta Connection carriers operate more than 300 regional jets throughout North America. For more information, please visit delta.com.

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