Ribbon Cutting and First Flights On New Runway at Minneapolis St. Paul-International Airport

Business Wire, Oct 25, 2005

Metropolitan Airports Commission:

A replica of Charles Lindbergh's famous Spirit of St. Louis and a
 Northwest Airlines A319 will be the first airplanes to take off after
               officials cut the ribbon on Runway 17/35

What:  Metropolitan Airports Commission Chair Vicki Tigwell, Federal
       Aviation Administration Regional Administrator Chris Blum, and
       Northwest Airlines President and Chief Executive Officer Doug
       Steenland will cut the ribbon officially opening MSP's new
       fourth runway, 17/35, for operations.

       Weather permitting, a replica of the Spirit of St. Louis, the
       airplane in which Minnesota aviator Charles Lindbergh made the
       first solo non-stop flight across the Atlantic, will be the
       first aircraft to take off from the new runway, followed by a
       Northwest Airlines A319.

When:  This Thursday, October 27, at 10:15 a.m., trams will take the
       media and invited guests to the runway for a 10:30 a.m. ribbon
       cutting, followed by the first flights.

       Trams leave at 10:15 sharp and are the only way to get to the
       runway for the ribbon cutting ceremony and first flights. Don't
       be late!

Where: Trams will leave for the runway from the Metropolitan Airports
       Commission's new field maintenance building, 7305 Longfellow
       Ave. So., Minneapolis

       --  From the north, take Highway 77 south from Minneapolis to
           the Diagonal Blvd. exit. Turn right on Cedar Ave S. and
           travel north to 66th St. Turn right on 66th St. Cross over
           Highway 77 and turn right onto Longfellow Ave, traveling
           south. The field maintenance facility will be on the left
           side of the road, just across the street south from the Sun
           Country Airlines hangar.

       --  From the south, take Highway 77 to the 66th St. exit.
           Travel east briefly to Longfellow Ave (the service road on
           the west side of the airport that runs parallel to Highway
           77). Turn right onto Longfellow. Travel south to the field
           maintenance facility, which sits on the left side of the
           road, just across the street south from the Sun Country
           Airlines hangar.