Delta Connection Begins New Nonstop Jet Service to Washington D.C.

Lexington, KY - Delta Connection today launched new nonstop jet service between Lexington, KY and Washington D.C. The new service between Lexington’s Blue Grass Airport and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport was the direct result of a three-year marketing campaign, outstanding community support, the urging of numerous elected officials and the growing market for air travel in Central Kentucky. In support of this new nonstop link over 200 Central Kentucky companies submitted letters to the U.S. Department of Transportation detailing the importance of nonstop access from Lexington to the nation’s capital.

“The launch of new nonstop service to Washington DC marks a milestone for Central Kentucky and Blue Grass Airport”, said Michael Gobb, Executive Director, Blue Grass Airport. “Landing this new service confirms that the potential for new and expanded air service in the region is present and growing.”

“Non-stop jet service to our nation’s capital is in very high demand and we look forward to offering this important link to our customers in Lexington and Central Kentucky,” said Fred Buttrell, president and chief executive officer, Delta Connection Inc. “We also are very grateful to the government, business and civic officials who represent the Lexington region for supporting this service and helping make it available to Central Kentucky citizens.”

Effective June 16, 2004

Lexington to Washington National
Flight 5592
Departs 8:30 a.m.
Arrives 9:55 a.m.

Washington National to Lexington
Flight 5593
Departs 8:45 p.m.
Arrives 10:03 p.m.

The new service utilizes the popular 50-seat Canadair Regional Jet and provides customers with the flexibility of conducting same-day business trips or extending trips over a number of days. With this announcement Delta and Delta Connection will offer 22 daily departures from Lexington to five nonstop destinations.

On April 1, 2004 the U.S. Department of Transportation announced that Delta Connection carrier Comair, Inc. had been granted permission to operate nonstop jet service between Lexington’s Blue Grass Airport and Washington DC. This service provided Lexington with its only direct jet access to the nation’s capital and the airport’s fourteenth nonstop destination.

Washington DC marks the seventh new nonstop destination introduced at Blue Grass Airport since 2000; nearly doubling the airport’s nonstop access from 7 to 13 destinations in just four years. Washington DC has long been one of the most sought after destinations by the local business community and currently ranks as the airport’s seventh most popular destination.

Blue Grass Airport is served by five major airline brands providing convenient non-stop service to 13 major airports and direct service to destinations worldwide. In 2003, Blue Grass Airport served over 1.1 million passengers and was the fifth fastest growing airport in the U.S.