SPANAIR LAUNCHES ITS AMBITIOUS EXPANSION PLAN FOCUSING ON BARCELONA AS ITS MAIN

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SPANAIR LAUNCHES ITS AMBITIOUS EXPANSION PLAN FOCUSING ON BARCELONA AS ITS MAIN DEVELOPMENT AREA.

THIS STRATEGIC PLAN (2006-2010) AFFIRMS THAT THE COMPANY IS THE ONLY ALTERNATIVE IN SPANISH AIR TRANSPORT AND EMPHASISES ITS CONTRIBUTION TO THE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOMENTS IN CATALONIA.

Barcelona, the 30th of June 2006, Spanair is immersed in an Expansion Plan, programmed during 2006-2010, that will affirm the Company as the only alternative in the Spanish market. The objectives that the Company plan to achieve during this period, will be to reach 15 million transported passengers a year, - actually Spanair transports more than 10 million, - to have a 5% growth in the market share, that is to say, an increase from 22% to 27%, and expanding its fleet to 80 aircraft from the 64 that they have already acquired.

The Plan will especially focus on Barcelona as its main source of expansion, with the final goal of converting 'El Prat' airport to a domestic and European hub, and also as a connection for long haul flights, as this airport will be contributing a 40% growth in the Company.

As well as this, Spanair aims to reach 5.5 million passengers in Barcelona, resulting in a 60% growth and at the same time more than doubling its number of domestic destinations to 40. To complete this offer, Spanair will strengthen its commercial agreements with other members of the Star Alliance network, the largest and most prestigious global airline alliance, of which Spanair is a member along with other airline partners, with the aim of helping new long haul destinations.

Spanair's growth in Barcelona will help support the completion of its domestic flight network, and strengthen its European network from Barcelona to other significant economic centres, developing new areas of growth in the Mediterranean and the Middle East and promoting new tourist markets towards Barcelona.

In this way, Spanair's objective will be to satisfy Catalonia's growing economic needs, now that the Company has developed and strengthened its offer for the leisure and business sectors, with frequencies, flexibility, destinations and quality of service. Also, Spanair's policy to do away with market monopolisation, has allowed the customer to benefit from an improved offer at a better price.

"Spanair offers a balanced and integral Expansion plan that compliments Barcelona and Catalonia's needs, as the second largest airline in Spain with the biggest growth to and from Spain, with more than 1.5 million new passengers this year alone", assures Gonzalo Pascual, the President of Spanair. " Our intention is to focus a large part of the endeavour in reinforcing Barcelona as a main factor in our development, creating new areas of growth, and all in all, providing the best possible service to our Leisure and Business clients", he
adds.

On the other hand, Spanair will carry out preferential agreements with Public and Private Institutions, by means of commercial and marketing connections and actively participate in local development and initiative Forums that will help in the development of the Expansion Plan whilst actively contributing to the spirit of Catalonian society.

The figures will guarantee the continuing pledge for Barcelona. In 2005, more than 1.200.000 passengers chose to fly with the Company on their Barcelona - Madrid connection. This route has seen a growth of 23% in the number of passengers transported and anticipates an increase of 16% during this year. As well as this, it is important to highlight the 30% market share that the Company gained from this route during February of this year, consolidating its product as an ideal option for the Business passenger offering excellent value for money.

Spanair was founded in 1986 and offers more than 600 daily flights, operated with a fleet of 64 aircraft and in code share with its partners, to 150 destinations. Since April 2003 the company has been a member of Star Alliance, the biggest and most prestigious airline network in the world.


Contact:
María Navarro / Coro Navarro
Heads of PR & Communications Department Tel. + 34 91 343 30 32/ 971 745 170

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