SHREVEPORT AUTHORITY SHREVEPORT REGIONAL AIRPORT—SHREVEPORT DOWNTOWN AIRPORTAIRPORT—SHREVEPORT DOWNTOWN AIRPORTT DOWNTOWN AIRPORT City of Shreveport

Delta Air Lines begins mainline flights in Shreveport with First Class cabin July 2nd

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Date: Wednesday, July 2, 2014 Contact: Mark Crawford: 318.673.5370 or 318.780.7080 Email: [email protected] Web: FlyShreveport.com

On Wednesday, July 2, began serving Shreveport Regional Airport (SHV) with its Boeing 717 aircraft, with non stop service to Atlanta. The new aircraft features 110 seats; 12 First Class, 15 Economy Comfort and 83 Economy seats. The plane also features WiFi on board.

The once daily flight is currently scheduled to depart Shreveport each day at 1:55pm, arriving in Atlanta at 4:40pm, which will allow travelers to connect to a large bank of international flights leaving from Atlanta. This flight is in addition to seven other daily flights to Atlanta. Flights are currently available for booking at Delta.com. Flight times are subject to change.

"We are excited by Delta's decision to reintroduce mainline service for our Ark-La-Tex customers, visitors and local residents alike. The arrival of the B717 will signify the confidence Delta has in this market and, with strong performance, we are likely to see additional upgauging of aircraft with First Class cabins and Economy Comfort seating operating to Atlanta and potentially to other markets as well," said Bryant L. Francis, Director of .

This is the first time in 12 years that Delta Air Lines mainline service is returning to SHV and it’s been seven years since First Class service has been offered by any carrier in this market. Delta is Shreveport Regional Airport’s largest carrier, serving more than 200,000 passengers in 2013. In June of this year, Delta celebrated 85 years of serving the Shreveport market. In 1929, Delta began air service between Dallas-Shreveport-Monroe and Jackson.

______Opened on July 6th, 1952, the Greater Municipal Airport became the region’s commercial carrier airport, replacing the Shreveport Downtown Airport, which opened in 1931. service was initially provided by Delta Air Lines, Chicago & Southern and Mid-Continent Airlines. In 1971, a 160,000-square-foot terminal with two new concourses, a restaurant, and lounge was added. The name was then changed to Shreveport Regional Airport to reflect the impact the airport had in the region. Shreveport Regional Airport is served by four airlines: Allegiant with non -stop service to Las Vegas and Orlando, with non-stop service to Dallas, Delta Air Lines with non-stop service to Atlanta and with non-stop service to Houston and Denver. More than 587,000 passengers traveled through SHV in 2013.