Comair makes statement on DOTIG report

Airline Industry Information, March 7, 2005

AIRLINE INDUSTRY INFORMATION-(C)1997-2005 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD

Following the release of the US Department of Transportation Inspector General's (DOTIG) report on flight disruptions during the 2004 holiday travel period, the US-based airline Comair issued a statement regarding its problems.

The airline said that it regrets the inconvenience to customers caused by a chain of events that stemmed from extremely severe winter weather during the holidays. Comair also said that the airline cooperated fully with the DOTIG investigation and has taken steps to prevent similar events in the future.

Comair is a Delta Connection airline and wholly owned subsidiary of Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL).

The DOTIG report, written by Transportation Department Inspector General Kenneth Mead, determined that Comair's cancellations and delays over the period were largely beyond the control of the airline. The carrier reportedly left 269,000 passengers stranded and mishandled 11,000 pieces of luggage, but the investigation concluded that it was unlikely this could have been prevented because it was due to bad weather conditions and computer problems, according to The Associated Press.

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