NWAC Northwest Airlines (MM)

UATP Merchant Base of Low-Fare Airlines Continues Growth WASHINGTON, Oct. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Independence Air (NASDAQ:FLYI), is the most recent low-fare airline to join a growing list of low-fare carriers as a UATP merchant. Independence Air will reduce distribution costs with UATP's lower credit card costs. Effective 6 October 2005, Independence Air will accept all UATP cards, which are issued by 14 airlines worldwide to their corporate customers; and accepted by more than 220 airlines. (Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20040318/UATPLOGO ) Independence Air will also utilize UATP Settlement Services (USS), a low-cost, weekly settlement system that matches fees and air tickets electronically, allowing for easy reconciliation of accounts for non-clearing house transactions. "The UATP model fits with Independence Air's overall strategy of putting the customer first. This new arrangement comes as a direct result of requests from customers who have told us they would like to have the UATP option available to them." said Eric Nordling, Independence Air senior vice president, Marketing. "As a UATP Merchant, Independence Air will be able to expand our presence in the corporate sector and remain competitive while keeping our costs low." Launched in the summer of 2004, Independence Air is the only low-fare carrier based at Washington Dulles International Airport, and has earned a reputation for making the travel experience fast, easy and less expensive. "The fight for market share among the low fare carriers is forcing airlines to look at new ways to facilitate the client base. Being a UATP Merchant will position Independence Air to further compete in the corporate travel sector, while keeping its focus of fulfilling customer needs," Ralph Kaiser, UATP president and CEO said. Dulles-based Independence Air was recently ranked third best domestic airline by the readers of Travel + Leisure. This is the first year that none of the largest six carriers in the U.S. was ranked in the top-10. For further information on this survey, contact: https://www.flyi.com/company/pressarchive/2005/jul/071205.aspx Visit http://www.uatp.com/ or http://www.flyi.com/ for more information. About UATP UATP accounts are accepted as a form of payment for corporate business travel by more than 200 airlines worldwide. UATP accounts are issued by these airlines: Aer Lingus, Air New Zealand, American Airlines (NYSE:AMR), Austrian Airlines, Continental Airlines (NYSE:CAL), Delta Air Lines (NYSE:DAL), Japan Airlines (NasdaqOTC: JALSY), Qantas Airways, Ltd., Scandinavian Airlines System, United Airlines (OTC:UALAQ) (BULLETIN BOARD: UALAQ) , US Airways (OTC:UAIRQ.OB) (BULLETIN BOARD: UAIRQ.OB) , and VARIG Brazilian Airlines. AirPlus International issues the UATP-based Company Account for: British Airways (NYSE:BAB), Lufthansa German Airlines, Northwest Airlines (NASDAQ:NWAC), Continental Airlines (NYSE:CAL). About Independence Air Independence Air is the low-fare airline that makes travel fast and easy for its customers with a customer-first attitude, innovative thinking and a willingness to challenge the status quo. The airline offers low fares every day with comfortable leather seats and Tender Loving Service(SM). For more information about FLYi, Inc. and Independence Air, please visit our website at FLYi.com. Independence Air, the "i" logo mark, FLYi, the FLYi Guy, FLYi.com, Tender Loving Service and Go Your Own Way are service marks of Independence Air, Inc. CONTACT: Wendy L. Ward of UATP, +1-202-626-4077. http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20040318/UATPLOGO http://photoarchive.ap.org/ DATASOURCE: UATP CONTACT: Wendy L. Ward of UATP, +1-202-626-4077 Web site: http://www.uatp.com/ http://www.flyi.com/

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