AEROMEXICO LAUNCHES NEW SERVICE TO MEXICO FROM ONTARIO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT BEGINNING DECEMBER 15

(Ontario, California – November 6, 2000) Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) officials today announced that AeroMexico will begin roundtrip service three times a week on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday between Ontario International Airport (ONT) and Guadalajara and Mexico City starting December 15.

AeroMexico, Mexico’s largest airline, plans to operate an MD-82 aircraft (seats between 136-140 passengers) with departures from ONT’s Terminal 2 and arrivals at ONT’s International Arrivals Terminal. Flight number 459 is scheduled to depart ONT at 11:55 p.m., arriving in Guadalajara at 4:55 a.m., and continuing to Mexico City for a 7:40 a.m. arrival. From Mexico City, flight number 458 will depart at 6 p.m., arriving in Guadalajara at 7:45 p.m., with final arrival at ONT at 9 p.m.

Miguel Contreras, a member of the Los Angeles Board of Airport Commissioners who participated on two air-service development delegations to AeroMexico’s headquarters in Mexico City said, "We are delighted international air service will begin this holiday season at Ontario International Airport. This new route continues to demonstrate LAWA’s commitment to Ontario and the Inland Empire to market our state-of-the-art facilities at ONT. This will help meet the growing demand for air service between Mexico and Southern California and will bring substantial economic benefits to the Inland Empire."

Lydia H. Kennard, LAWA executive director, said, "This is a big step in Los Angeles World Airports’ efforts to take a regional approach in meeting Southern California’s air travel demand by encouraging its distribution throughout the region. We will do everything possible to ensure AeroMexico’s success at Ontario International Airport."

City of Ontario Mayor Gary Ovitt said, "Ontario and the entire Inland Empire continue to experience unprecedented growth in our business, residential, and tourism areas. ONT gives AeroMexico the ideal airport to tap into this steadily growing market."

"This new route capitalizes on the solid economic growth of the Inland Empire over the past five years, which is driving both business and leisure demand in this market," said Rolf Hoehn, AeroMexico’s regional manager. "We believe that the start-up of Ontario, which is AeroMexico’s third California gateway city and a convenient alternative to LAX, will contribute to the further growth of the area."

With the ONT-Guadalajara-Mexico City route, AeroMexico will have 12 gateways into the United States, including three in California (Los Angeles, San Diego, and Ontario), with service to 80 U.S. and Canadian destinations. AeroMexico also serves 43 cities in Mexico and six countries in Europe and South America.

An international air service study conducted in 1999 identified Mexico as a potential market for ONT. The study – commissioned by LAWA and the City of Ontario – was conducted by SH&E International Transport Consultancy, a private transportation consulting firm. LAWA and City of Ontario officials presented the results of the study in follow-up meetings with AeroMexico executives in both Mexico and Ontario.

ONT – located 35 miles east of Los Angeles – is part of LAWA’s four-airport system which includes Los Angeles International, Van Nuys, and Palmdale Regional Airports.