DFW International Airport And Delta Air Lines Reach Agreement On Gates In Terminal E

Airport Pays Delta $7M for 24 Gates; Airline Keeps Four

DFW INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (January 6, 2005) – DFW International Airport and Delta Air Lines reached a comprehensive agreement today that allows for the Airport to regain control of 24 of the airline’s gates in DFW’s Terminal E for $7 million. Delta will release the gates to the Airport over the next several months and keep four gates in Terminal E to continue its reduced operations. The transaction is a result of Delta and Delta Connection reducing its service at DFW from 258 daily departures per day to 21 flights as of February 1.

We are extremely grateful for the cooperation and leadership that Delta Air Lines has shown during this negotiation process,” says DFW CEO Jeff Fegan. “We know Delta has had some very tough decisions to make here at our Airport and around the country, and we believe our agreement with the airline is beneficial to both parties.”

In return for relinquishing the gates to DFW, Delta will be released from payment of future rents, fees and charges on these facilities. The airline had previously held leases for the gates that ran through the end of 2009.

The Airport’s payment to Delta will reimburse costs Delta incurred to make physical improvements to Terminal E and to consolidate its operations to four gates.

“As an inaugural tenant of DFW in 1974 we value our relationship with DFW International Airport and are glad we will maintain a presence in North Texas,” said Wallis D. Shoppy, Delta’s Managing Director of Corporate Real Estate. “Although DFW will no longer be a Delta hub, we will continue to have a significant presence in the market, one of the country’s largest, with frequent service to our hubs in Atlanta, Cincinnati and Salt Lake City.”

DFW International Airport will begin seeking a carrier to fill the gates vacated by Delta this week by offering a comprehensive incentive plan and financial package to all major airlines in the United States.

Editors: To arrange interviews, contact Ken Capps, Vice President, Public Affairs at 972-574-8080 or kcapps@dfwairport.com.