MEDIA ADVISORY: Mayor Villaraigosa to Announce Expansion of International Air Service at LAX in Boost to Regional Economy

U.S.-Australia Open Skies Treaty to Be Signed Monday in Washington Will Allow Virgin Blue Group's V Australia Airlines to Launch New Service at LAX, Creating Jobs and Economic Benefits for Southern Ca

LOS ANGELES, CA -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 03/30/08 --

WHAT: Los Angeles Mayor Antonio R. Villaraigosa will be joined by U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Mary Peters (via satellite), Virgin Group Founder and Chairman Sir Richard Branson and Virgin Blue Group co-founder and CEO Brett Godfrey at a news conference to announce the start of service between Australia and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on V Australia, Virgin Blue Airlines' new long-haul air carrier.

During the news conference, officials will announce V Australia Airlines will use the first of 10 weekly allotments to launch non-stop service between Sydney and LAX beginning December.

The addition of V Australia's new air service at LAX will create more local jobs and foster the opportunity for economic growth in the City of Los Angeles and throughout the region. Based on an economic analysis of overseas flights at LAX by the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation, the V Australia flights will generate an annual economic impact of up to $872 million, and sustain as many as 4,340 jobs with total wages of $218 million.

V Australia will be the ninth air carrier to begin or announce new international service to LAX in the past year, which continues a trend toward increased international air travel at LAX. In total, the nine carriers will have added 126 arrivals and departures per week at LAX, with an estimated annual economic impact of more than $5.6 billion. Overall, the new services will sustain 28,000 jobs paying wages totaling $1.4 billion.

WHO: - Mayor Antonio R. Villaraigosa - U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Mary Peters (via satellite) - Founder & Chairman of Virgin Group Sir Richard Branson - Co-founder & Chief Executive Officer of Virgin Blue Group Brett Godfrey

WHEN: Monday, March 31, 2008 at 10:30 a.m.

WHERE: LAX Tom Bradley International Terminal Upper/Departures Level Ticketing Aisle A

MEDIA PARKING: Broadcast-equipped media vehicles ONLY displaying LAX Media Parking Permits may park terminal curbside on the Upper/Departures Level between Terminal 3 and TBIT, and TBIT and Terminal 4. All other media may park in Parking Structures 3 or 4. Parking will be validated.

CONTACTS: Office of the Mayor Darryl Ryan (213) 978-0741

LAX Public Relations (310) 646-5260 24-hour pager: (310) 523-8994

2008-03-30 19:40:42 0322603 MARKETWIRE