Jackson Free Press

January 9, 2004 WASHINGTON (statement) - U.S. Senator Trent Lott, who chairs the U.S. Senate's Aviation Subcommittee, has voiced his support for today's filing with the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) by Delta Connection carrier Comair asking that the airline be permitted to establish direct nonstop passenger service between Washington's Reagan National Airport and Jackson, Mississippi's Jackson International Airport. The move follows passage of a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization bill which Senator Lott helped craft late last year, providing slots for additional flights between Reagan National and other select U.S. cities as determined by the USDOT.

"If approved, this direct flight will certainly be a great step forward for Mississippi's airline customers, establishing a nonstop commercial flight between Mississippi's capital city and our nation's capital city," Senator Lott said. "More and more airlines are realizing Mississippi's economic and commercial potential by establishing direct jet service between Mississippi and major U.S. cities, and this particular flight would certainly signal that this very welcome service expansion trend will continue."

Reagan National Airport located in Alexandria, Virginia just across the Potomac River from the city of Washington, D.C., within minutes of virtually every major government and tourist destination in the D.C. area. Currently passengers using Delta or other airlines to access Reagan National's convenient location and ground transportation offerings must fly through other major hubs, including Atlanta and Cincinnati. A direct flight between Reagan National and Jackson would cut travel time for passengers considerably, eliminating layovers and reducing the chances for flight delays or cancellations.

The service between Jackson and Washington's Reagan National would include one daily flight aboard the popular Bombardier CRJ regional jet aircraft. A decison by USDOT is expected within 90 days.