The U.S. Department of
Transportation has awarded US Airways a new route between its Philadelphia hub and the Chinese capital city of
Beijing.The daily service to China will begin in 2009 with wide-body Airbus
A340 aircraft configured to seat 269 (42 Envoy and 227 economy).  The flight
will originate at the airline’s hub in Charlotte, N.C.

US Airways Chairman and CEO Doug Parker stated, “We are extremely honored
by the Department’s decision to award US Airways with this service, and I want
to personally thank Secretary Peters and others on her staff who worked
diligently to review our application. The Department conducted a fair and
thorough process and because of that work, today, US Airways has been
presented with an historic opportunity for our airline’s employees and our
customers.”

  Continues Parker, “We are also most appreciative of the support
demonstrated by many federal, state and local elected officials and business
leaders. Specifically, from Pennsylvania, Gov. Edward G. Rendell and U.S.
Senators Arlen Specter and Robert P. Casey, Jr. and Philadelphia Mayor John F.
Street; from North Carolina, Senators Elizabeth Dole and Richard Burr as well
as Gov. Michael F. Easley and Charlotte Mayor Patrick McCrory; from Delaware,
Sen. Joseph R. Biden Jr., Sen. Thomas R. Carper, U.S. Rep. Michael N. Castle
and Gov. Ruth Ann Minner.

  “Lastly, thanks to our customers and employees also played a big role in
garnering support for this service, further demonstrating how working together
can bring about positive results for the future of US Airways.”

  Philadelphia is the second largest city on the East Coast and the fifth in
the nation, with a metropolitan area of almost six million people.  Before the
DOT award, it is also the second largest U.S. metro area without nonstop
service to China.

  US Airways currently serves 19 million customers annually at its
Philadelphia hub, and operates 417 daily flights to 111 destinations in the
United States, Canada, Europe, the Caribbean and Latin America.
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