Contact: Melissa Forsythe, Governor's office or
Joe Lilly, PH: 502.564.7670
Email: jlilly@mail.state.ky.us
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 12, 1998

COMAIR TO EXPAND FACILITIES IN KENTUCKY

FRANKFORT, KY - Economic Development Cabinet Secretary Gene Strong, on behalf of Governor Paul E. Patton today, thanked officials from COMAIR, Inc. for announcing a major expansion of their facilities at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport. The company estimates this expansion could create up to 900 new jobs over the next ten years.

In a news conference in the state capitol rotunda in Frankfort, COMAIR announced a $25 million expansion project to accommodate its growing fleet of regional jets and the support facilities to maintain it. The expansion includes maintenance and training facilities as well as office space near COMAIR's headquarters along Tower Drive at the airport. Construction will start later this year.

"We appreciate the faith demonstrated by COMAIR in the people of Kentucky," said Strong on the Governor's behalf. "Our productive workforce and our pro-business environment combined have enabled Kentucky to become a leader in the aviation industry."

"Our commitment to expand facilities at our Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky hub reinforces our commitment to this area," said David Siebenburgen, President and Chief Executive Officer of COMAIR. "As the only airline headquartered in Kentucky, the Commonwealth recognized the economic value of our growth and has been very willing to work with us to make our expansion happen at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky international Airport. Kentucky recognizes the value of the aviation industry and is seizing the opportunity to position itself as a world leader in this area."

Siebenburgen stated an important factor in the decision to choose Kentucky was Governor Patton's support of legislation currently in the Kentucky General Assembly to cap the sales tax liability on jet fuel at $1 million annually. "In fact, this is why we chose to make this announcement in Kentucky's state capital in Frankfort," Siebenburgen added. " We also appreciate the responsiveness and the professionalism shown to us by The Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development and Secretary Gene Strong. He and his staff made us feel that we were their number one priority. "

"With today's announcement by COMAIR, we are celebrating some 7600 new aviation-related jobs for Kentuckians that have been announced in the past month," said Strong. "These new jobs carry an investment in Kentucky of more than one billion dollars and the designation that Kentucky has become a major player in the worldwide aviation industry."

Groundbreaking for the project is contingent upon several factors including passage of the jet fuel sales tax provision and execution of a final contract with the Kenton County Airport Board.

COMAIR currently employs 3,500 throughout its system, which includes service to 80 cities in 28 states and three countries from its hubs in Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky and Orlando. More than 2,200 of those employees are based at the airline's Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky hub.

An economic impact study commissioned by the Tri County Economic Development Corporation (Tri-ED) estimated that COMAIR's expansion will generate more than $380 million for the local economy and create more than 5,000 new jobs.

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