IMMEDIATE

CONTACT: CARLA L. FIRESTONE, TOLEDO-LUCAS COUNTY PORT AUTHORITY COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR
OFFICE: 419-243-8251 -- MOBILE: 419-260-9981

DIRECT AIR TO FLY TO PUNTA GORDA, FLA BEGINNING THANKSGIVING 2008

TOLEDO, Ohio, Sept. 5, 2008 – The Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority announced today that a new airline will begin service to Toledo. Direct Air will be initiating two weekly direct flights between Toledo and Punta Gorda, situated between Sarasota and Ft. Myers, Florida with service beginning November 24, 2008. The route will be served with brand new Virgin America A320 which will offer both first class and coach seating. Fares and additional flight information will be announced next week

As part of the opening celebration, Direct Air is offering all Toledo Express Airport customers a special introductory “$79 for 79 Hours” sale. During this event, customers may call or book online and receive a special discounted rate of $79 each way for most dates of travel between Punta Gorda and Toledo Express. This special sales event begins today and will end 79 hours later on Monday, September 8.

“In a time when airports all over the nation are losing service, Toledo Express has successfully secured new high-quality air passenger service,” says Eric Frankl, Toledo-Lucas Port Authority Airports Director. “Our customers have told us that we need to compete with the quality of Detroit service. With Direct Air we now have a product that is extremely competitive in terms of price but exceeds expectations in terms of passenger comfort and convenience.”

The Direct Air aircraft that will be flown from Toledo Express Airport are unique as they are part of Virgin America's signature upscale designed Airbus A320. The brand new planes feature mood lighting; custom-designed leather seats with 110 volt power outlets; individual touch-screen entertainment systems with pay-per-view movies and videogames and also offer over 3000 MP3s on every flight. Direct Air flights can be booked via www.directairus.com or through your local travel agent beginning today.

Direct Air chose Toledo for several factors including the 12 million travelers that reside within two-hours of Toledo Express Airport “Direct Air has built a strong niche service in developing secondary airports,” says Judy Tull, CEO of Direct Air. “We’re confident that we can we can provide excellent service via Toledo Express Airport with our nonstop flights, low fares and convenient departure times.”

“Direct Air is committed to providing safe, reliable air service with convenient and unique vacation packages,” states Ed Warneck, President of Direct Air. “We are confident that the new, award-winning Virgin Aircraft will appeal to a broad range of travelers seeking to travel quickly, and at a reasonable rate.”

(PGD). The airport is halfway between Sarasota and Ft. Myers. The Charlotte County Airport will now be the recipient of five non-stop Direct Air markets. In addition to Toledo Express Airport, Direct Air also announced today that they will be servicing the new markets of Allentown, Pennsylvania; Worcester, Massachusetts; Orlando-Sanford, Florida in addition to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; Niagara Falls, New York; Columbus, Ohio; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Plattsburgh, New York and Newark, New Jersey, all of which have been serviced since March 2007.

With the addition of Direct Air, Toledo Express Airport travelers now have two options to reach Florida destinations as Allegiant Air offers multiple flights per week to the St. Petersburg and Orlando-Sanford markets. Toledo Express offers easy access from northwest Ohio and southeastern Michigan, convenient and affordable parking and quick service inside the terminal. Toledo Express also offers a trip calculator to help consumers determine the true cost of flying out of Toledo Express versus other airports. Book tickets, sign up for weekly deal alerts and calculate the true cost of your next trip via www.flytoledoexpress.com.

Direct Air is an indirect air carrier providing public charter air flights and offering all- inclusive vacation, golf, and entertainment packages. Direct Air is privately owned and managed by a core management team with more than 100 combined years of extensive experience in tour operations and packaging, aviation charters and services, finance, marketing, technology, and general management in the tour operator / aviation industry, both in domestic and international operations.

The Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority and Direct Air hope to announce inaugural familiarization trips for the media and travel agents located in northeast Indiana, northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan. Contact Carla Firestone, Director of Communications at the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority for further information.

The Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority’s business is transportation. That business is shaped by our mission to move people and cargo through the region while employing innovative finance programs to stimulate economic development. For more information, please visit www.toledoportauthority.org.

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