DATE OF DISTRIBUTION: April 18, 2008               FOR RELEASE UPON RECEIPT

TIA March Passenger Traffic
Highest in History

     Airline passenger traffic at Tucson International Airport (TIA) for the month of March 2008 was up 3.91%, from 422,493 for March 2007, to 439,004. This is the greatest number of travelers through TIA in a single month in its history. By way of comparison, passenger traffic for all of 1965 totaled 455,144. Total passengers for the first quarter of 2008 increased 5.41% to 1,184,938, compared to 1,124,139 for the same period last year.

      “March is historically the busiest month of the year at Tucson International,” said Bonnie Allin, Tucson Airport Authority (TAA) President/CEO. “This is a reflection of the increased number of air service options available from Tucson and the community’s support, which is critical to our continued success of attracting new service and keeping existing service, especially during these challenging economic times.”

      For a ten-year summary of airline passenger traffic, click here.

      There are currently 12 airlines providing 88 daily departures to 28 nonstop destinations from Tucson.

      Airlines and service include: Aeromexico Connect (Hermosillo); Alaska (Seattle); American (Chicago, Dallas/Ft. Worth); Continental (Houston, Newark); Delta (Atlanta, Los Angeles, Salt Lake City); ExpressJet (Austin, Kansas City, Ontario, CA, Sacramento, San Antonio, Omaha, Reno, Spokane); Frontier (Denver); JetBlue (New York); Northwest (Minneapolis); Southwest (Albuquerque, Chicago, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Oakland, San Diego); United (Denver, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Washington DC/Dulles); US Airways (Las Vegas, Phoenix, nonstop service to Charlotte, N.C. begins June 3).

      Go to www.airtucson.com, TIA’s airfare portal, for the best deals.

T-A-A

     The Tucson Airport Authority (TAA) celebrates 60 years in 2008. A nonprofit entity created by State Charter in 1948, TAA is composed of 115 community members that elect a nine-member board of directors. TAA President/CEO Bonnie Allin oversees day-to-day operations, and a staff of over 300 employees. TAA manages Tucson International Airport and Ryan Airfield.