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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 19, 2012
No.: 12-2616
Contact: Angie Spear, Division Operations Manager, angie.spear@alaska.gov, (907) 474-2529

New Nonstop Service Between Fairbanks and Chicago Begins in June 2013
United to Operate Daily Seasonal Service

(FAIRBANKS, Alaska) –United today announced plans to launch nonstop service between its Chicago hub and Fairbanks, Alaska, with daily flights beginning June 6 through August 26, 2013. The new flights will operate with Boeing 737-800 aircraft with 154 seats. Chicago O’Hare is consistently one of North America’s busiest airports servicing more than 67 million passengers and 200 destinations around the globe.

"United Airlines is pleased to add new service to Chicago in 2013 after starting service to the city via Denver (DEN) this past year", said Jim Ferea, United’s managing director of domestic planning. "These new flights will increase convenience and choice for travel between the Golden Heart City and the Midwest and Eastern US."

Besides adding the new flights to Chicago this year, United is also expanding the season for the DEN flights by starting those on May 13, 2013 and operating those until September 14, 2013. This increase is about 5 weeks longer than the 2012 service in the market.

"The airport is excited about the expansion of United Airlines’ services to Fairbanks,” said Angie Spear, Division Operations Manager for Fairbanks International Airport. “This link to both domestic and international markets through United’s hubs in Chicago and Denver will offer Alaskans and visitors alike global connectivity previously unavailable."

"United's announcement is a fresh breath of optimism for travel industry recovery since unprecedented declines in 2009,” said Deb Hickok, President and CEO of the Fairbanks Convention and Visitors Bureau. “This air lift from a major hub will go a long way to further access to and from Alaska's Interior."

The new flights will be available for sale at united.com and through other distribution systems later today.

The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities oversees 255 airports, 11 ferries serving 35 communities, 5,619 miles of highway and 720 public facilities throughout the state of Alaska. The mission of the department is to “Get Alaska Moving through service and infrastructure.”

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