1-13-03
"Comair Aviation Academy Officially Opens Bridgewater Facility."

New Bedford Mayor Welcomes Comair Aviation Academy

ORLANDO, Fla., January 13, 2003 - Florida based, Comair Aviation Academy officially opened the doors to its new satellite facility in New Bedford, Massachusetts on Monday with a ribbon cutting ceremony. In attendance was Fredrick Kalisz, Jr., Mayor of New Bedford. "The city of New Bedford is extremely excited to have Comair Aviation Academy involved with our community" said Kalisz. "This is a great day for the city, as well as, the New Bedford Regional Airport now that Comair and Bridgewater State College have come to our city."

As flight training provider for Bridgewater State College in Massachusetts, Comair Aviation Academy will offer the Aviation Program students a highly specialized airline training curriculum and a guaranteed job interview with a Delta Connection carrier upon graduation.

"The combination of Bridgewater State College, the New Bedford Airport, The Community of New Bedford, and Comair Aviation Academy creates a powerhouse of resources and expertise for the Bridgewater students to access," said Susan Burrell, President of Comair Aviation Academy. "In alignment with our partners¹, we now will be able to provide additional pilots who also have achieved an outstanding collegiate education for the Delta Connection system".

Comair Aviation Academy is a subsidiary of Delta Airlines and is the primary flight training organization for Delta Connection Comair. Growth and retirements have created immediate openings for First Officers, and the demand for entry-level regional pilots will remain strong over the next 12 months. Comair Aviation Academy is already establishing interview dates for its graduates to help fill those positions. Bridgewater State College's outstanding Aviation Program, along with the airline-oriented flight operations offered by Comair Aviation Academy, will assist students working toward a four year degree and provide a guaranteed job interview with a Delta Connection carrier Comair.

"I visited the Comair Aviation Academy facility in Sanford, Florida and was very impressed with the level of professionalism." Said Jim Burgess, Airport Commissioner for the New Bedford Regional Airport. "We are very happy this partnership with Comair Aviation Academy has come to fruition. This program, offers the students access to the most direct college-to-airline path in the industry, as well as, a first-class airport to conduct their training," said Burgess.

Comair Aviation Academy is owned and operated by Comair, a wholly owned subsidiary of Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL). For the past four years, the Academy issued more pilot certificates that any other flight school in the world. To date, 97 percent of Comair Aviation Academy graduates have been hired as First Officers with 26 airlines. With a fleet of more than 100 aircraft, Comair Aviation Academy has trained students from 86 different countries. For more information, visit Comair Aviation Academy online at www.ComairAcademy.com or call 1-800-CAN-FLY.