European Low Fares Airlines Association announces new members // Regional airports considering membership // Low Fares Airline Study to be released in October 2

Madrid/Brussels 30.09.2004 (PROTEXT/ots) - During their firstAnnual General Meeting, held at the Routes Conference in Madrid,European Low Fare Airlines Association (ELFAA) announced that AirPolonia, the Poland based low fares airline, had joined ELFAAbecoming the 12th member of the Association. ELFAA was founded inJanuary 2004 and is aiming to ensure that European policy andlegislation promote free and equal competition to enable thecontinued growth and development of the low fares airlineindustry. Wolfgang Kurth, president of ELFAA and CEO of theGerman low cost airline Hapag-Lloyd Express commented: AirPolonia is the third ELFAA member originating from one of the newEU member states clearly indicating that low cost airlinescontribute substantially to the European integration process."Air Polonia was founded in 2001 and currently operates two B737-400.

Air Asia, Asia's first low fare airline to introduce"ticketless" travelling, also approached ELFAA and has now beenexpected as an associate airline member. Despite the membershipof international airlines ELFAA will solely concentrate onlobbying on an European level, however carriers such as Air Asiaoperating out of Malaysia can learn much in regards to thepolitical decision making process in a liberalized market, Kurthadded. Air Asia was established in 2001 and currently operates 19B737-300.

Kurth was also very pleased about the high level of interestfrom several regional airports in joining ELFAA within the nextcouple of months: We have been approached by several regionalairports stating their interests in becoming a member of ourassociation. This shows that airports are coming to understandthe needs and potential of low fares airlines and that Brusselstoo, will have to take the requirements and demands of the entireEuropean low cost industry not just Airlines, but Airports andsuppliers as well much more seriously than before.

The ELFAA members also approved a draft study being preparedon the "Liberalisation of European Air Transport: The Benefits ofLow Fares Airlines to Consumers, Airports, Regions and theEnvironment." The objective of the study is to better informpolicy makers on the low fares model and the enormous benefitslow fares airlines have brought to regional airports as well asto the regions themselves. The aim is to finalise the study byOctober and to publish it on the ELFAA website: www.elfaa.com

ELFAA Members include: Air Berlin, BasiqAir, Transavia,flybe, Sky Europe, Ryanair, Sverige Flyg, Volareweb, Sterling,Hapag-Lloyd Express, wizzair and Air Polonia.

NOTE TO THE EDITORS. Press packs available by e-mailing:info@elfaa.com Website at : www.elfaa.com Current Press office :Phone +49 511 5900 500, Fax +49 511 5900 509

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