Good afternoon and thank you all for being here.

Today is a fantastic day! It is the day that we have been waiting for...at last our community efforts to bring affordable airfares and improved air service to Wichita Mid-Continent Airport has come to fruition. It is with the arrival of AirTran that our dream has become a reality.

It is no secret that lowering air fares at Wichita's Mid-Continent Airport has been a top priority for the City of Wichita. It is no secret that we have been and continue to be very aggressive about achieving that goal. And now, because of help from all of you in this room...with the help of businesses and communities in Wichita and across South Central Kansas...today we are able to celebrate a major victory with the arrival of AirTran to Wichita.

Just a few months ago we unveiled the Fair Fares Campaign. I asked you all to make it more than just a slogan...I asked you to make it a battle cry for this community... And you did.

I promised that we were going to change the way Wichita business travels...that we were going to change the way airlines do business in Wichita...and in the process...that we were going to forge a new model for solving community problems...and we have.

The commitments to the Fair Fares Travel Bank represent a partnership between the businesses of south-central Kansas and AirTran...commitments, which will help reduce some of the high risk of starting new airline service. The Fair Fares Travel Bank Program and your support and commitment to it is the reason that AirTran Airways is coming to Wichita.

This was clearly a community effort...but there are some groups who deserve special recognition for their work in making this day possible.

• The Air Service Task Force, who has been working tirelessly on this issue since they first met.

• The Fair Fares Committee for doing the heavy lifting of recruiting pledges and keeping the campaign running on a daily basis...

• The BIG Group...a coalition of business leaders who stepped forward and made the first substantial pledges to the Travel Bank...

• All of the organizations, businesses and communities that signed on to the Travel Bank.

We are proud that AirTran has selected Wichita. We know they made the right decision. AirTran is the second largest low fair carrier in the nation. The arrival of this fine company brings 10 additional daily flights to Mid-Continent Airport going to and from Atlanta and Chicago-Midway. These flights will provide connections to numerous other cities on the east coast. This put Wichita on the map as the thirty-eighth city of service for AirTran.

This once again has proved that no community can succeed or even survive unless its citizens dedicate their attention and energy to discuss issues and address challenges. That is the very spirit of community. And Wichita truly is a great community.

Now we have a special guest from AirTran that I would to introduce you to. Tad Hutcheson is Director of Marketing for AirTran Airways. He joined AirTran Airways in June 1997 and he has a few words to share with us as well...Tad...

Now I am honored to present to you Mr. Joe Leonard. Joe Leonard is chairman and chief executive officer of AirTran Holdings, Inc. and its subsidiary, AirTran Airways, Inc. He joined AirTran Airways in January 1999. He is obviously a brilliant man because look at what he has built, not to mention the fact that he has brought AirTran to a world-class city like Wichita. Joe, would you please say a few words on behalf of AirTran?

Thank you Joe, for being here, and Former Senator Dole. I am so pleased that Bob was able to make it to this celebration. The economic impact that AirTran brings to our state is truly something to celebrate and Senator Dole was realized its importance and wanted to be a part of it.

Thank you once again to everyone who is here today. You are all very special people who have had a positive impact on this City. I would like to remind you that shortly following this luncheon, we will be out at the Airport at Gate 12 to officially cut the ribbon...Bailis, were you able to get the scissors through security?...Good! Ok, it looks like we do get to officially cut the ribbon so be sure to join us there at 2:30 PM! Thank you all for coming!