DATE OF DISTRIBUTION: January 14, 2008               FOR RELEASE UPON RECEIPT

DARRYL B. DOBRAS TO CHAIR
THE TUCSON AIRPORT AUTHORITY

Darryl B. Dobras assumed the chairmanship of the Tucson Airport Authority (TAA) at their annual meeting today. The membership elected six new members and two board members.

A member of the Authority since 1982, Mr. Dobras was named to the Board of Directors in 2004. He is the President of DBD Investments, Inc., and serves on numerous boards. He is the Chairman of the Board of the Desert Angels Investment Group, and serves on the board of the Arizona Commission on the Arts, and Downtown Development Corporation.

Mr. Dobras is also the Past Chairman of the Board of the Arizona Theatre Company, the University of Arizona Foundation, and the University of Arizona Architect Advisory Board.

Six new members were elected to the Authority: John Bremond, President, K-B Homes; Vicki Chandler, Director, Bio5 Institute; John Fendenheim, Owner, Fendenheim Enterprises; Fran Katz, National Sales Manager, Tucson Lifestyle Magazine; Frances Merryman, Vice President, Sr. Wealth Strategist, Northern Trust, NA; Robert Shelton, President, University of Arizona.

The membership also selected two new members for the board of directors: Lisa H. Israel, President/CEO, La Posada at Park Centre, Inc., and Greg Pivirotto, President/CEO, University Medical Center.

Continuing on the board this year are: Raymond Bernal, Chanda S. Budhabhatti, Timothy J. Prouty, Rubin Salter, Christopher Sheafe, and Thomas A. Zlaket.

Outgoing TAA Chairman, Richard F. Imwalle, recognized the passing of Authority members Ken Herman and Jose Canchola. Mr. Imwalle also noted some of the major milestones accomplished by the Tucson Airport Authority during 2007.

“This past year, we witnessed a significant increase in the number of daily nonstop flights available from Tucson International. We ended 2007 with 10 new destinations,” he said. “Today we have 13 airlines providing 89 daily nonstop departures to 28 destinations. This includes the arrival of ExpressJet Airlines and its service to nine new destinations (Austin, El Paso, Kansas City, Los Angles/Ontario, Omaha, Reno, San Antonio, Sacramento, Spokane), and Southwest Airlines’ introduction of daily nonstop service to Oakland, California.”

Mr. Imwalle noted other air service improvements, particularly:
. Southwest Airlines’ addition of a second nonstop flight to Chicago Midway.
. United Airlines’ return of seasonal nonstop service to Washington DC / Dulles.
. Delta Air Lines’ launch of twice daily nonstop service to Los Angeles.
. Sun Country Airlines’ twice weekly service to Minneapolis.

He also documented the new passenger amenities resulting from the TIA Concourse Renovation Project, “the last phase of the terminal expansion project that marks the end of over seven years of work to modernize the airport.”

“Among the recent terminal improvements are reconfigured security checkpoints; relocation of U.S. Customs and international arrivals to the main terminal; introduction of welcome lounges and coffee cafes in baggage claim, with closed circuit TV to watch arriving passengers, and a flight tracker for real time status of incoming and departing flights; free Wifi; and first class meeting rooms on the third floor that are available for rent,” he explained.

Mr. Imwalle mentioned other highlights including:
. Converting the second floor of the parking garage adjacent to the rental car facility to a public parking lot.
. Completion of Phase II of the overlay of the main runway 11 left / 29 right.
. Soundproofing 90 homes northwest of the airport, part of Tucson Airport Authority’s ongoing Sound Insulation Program, expected to be complete by 2010.
. Completion of the airport property soils and groundwater treatment facility on the west side of the airfield, the last piece of the long term remedy for cleaning up trichloroethylene (TCE) contaminated soil and groundwater on the airport. It marks the culmination of 20 years of work to clean toxic solvents from the Tucson International Airport area.

Focusing on the future, TAA President/CEO Bonnie Allin reported an increase in passengers for the fifth consecutive year noting that the rise in passenger traffic is directly attributable to the increase in major and regional airline activity.

“We ended 2007 with very positive growth in airline passenger traffic. Through December last year, traffic was up over 4.81% and we exceeded 4.4 million passengers for the year,” said Ms. Allin. (See related release).

Ms. Allin continued, “Although we are optimistic that growth will continue this year, it is likely to be more modest than the past couple of years. The airlines are predicting higher ticket prices because of rising fuel costs. That, coupled with a slowing economy, has already prompted several airlines to reduce planned 2008 capacity growth.”

Ms. Allin also noted that TAA will continue to pursue additional markets to fill in the gaps on its air service map including additional flights to Mexico.

Ms. Allin went on to describe several projects planned for 2008, including:
. Pay on foot parking for the airport’s parking lots and garage, as well as a new electronic signage system that will provide status updates on parking availability in the lots.
. Work on the infrastructure for 60 acres east of the terminal that has been designated for industrial development.
. Continuation of the relocation of parallel runway, 11 right / 29 left; completion of the environmental impact study is anticipated by 2009.
. Work with the Federal Aviation Administration and the Tucson air traffic controllers to facilitate the construction of a new tower at TIA. Currently, this project is on the FAA list of construction for 2012.
. Launch of a concert series as part of TAA’s Live at TIA Performing Art Program, and the dedication of several art installations being integrated into the terminal in conjunction with the completion of the concourse renovation project.

The Tucson Airport Authority is a nonprofit organization composed of 115 residents of Pima County. Created by Arizona state charter in 1948, TAA manages the operation of Tucson International Airport and general aviation airport Ryan Airfield.

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Attachment: TAA 2007 Year in Review