June 26, 2003 - Arlington, Virginia - The ARC Associate Carrier Program this week reached a milestone of 10 participating carriers with the addition of Caribbean Sun Airlines and VASP Brazilian Airlines, the ninth and tenth airlines to join the program.  These carriers add to ARC's existing participation base for a total of 133 carriers with direct ticketing access.  Tailored to carriers that process fewer than 1,000 transactions per month through ARC, the ARC Associate Carrier Program makes it easier for ARC-accredited travel agencies and corporate travel departments (CTD) to sell tickets on carriers that have not traditionally participated in ARC.

"One reason ARC accreditation is so valuable for travel agents and corporate travel departments is the ease with which they can sell their clients travel on more than 130 carriers that participate in ARC.  As we expand the Associate Carriers Program, we expand the list of carriers with which travel professionals have direct booking and settlement abilities," said David Collins, CTC, ARC president & chief executive officer.

With direct carrier access, travel agents and CTDs are in a better position to serve their clients than with indirect access through code-share, alliance or interline partners.  For agency clients, validation on tickets and itineraries of the carrier providing travel services eliminates possible confusion resulting from validation of an interlining carrier.

"When Southern Winds launched regular flights from the United States to Buenos Aires, Argentina, we knew we wanted to tap into the power of the US agency community in a cost-effective way," said Gustavo Echavarría, Southern Winds manager of interline & industry affairs.  "ARC's Associate Carrier Program offers us efficient reporting and settlement of US agency sales, and allows us to compete in the US market."

The Associate Carrier Program was designed for carriers that anticipate averaging less than 1,000 transactions per month passing through the ARC system.  Associate Carriers pay significantly lower fees than traditional ARC carriers, both for initial participation and fixed monthly fees.  Carriers currently participating in the program are:

• Aerosvit Airlines, Ukraine
• Afrinat International Airlines, The Gambia
• Air Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
• Air d'Ayiti, Haiti
• Caribbean Sun Airlines, United States
• Hahn Air, Germany
• SN Brussels Airlines, Belgium
• Southern Winds, Argentina
• Universal Airlines, Guyana
• VASP Brazilian Airlines, Brazil

ARC recognizes that change and adaptation are crucial within our industry.  The Associate Carrier Program initiative reflects ARC's philosophy that global carriers of all sizes and financial scope should be able to compete in the US market, creating a broad-based and diverse distribution network for both carriers and agents within the US.  Carriers interested in the Associate Carrier Program can request more information at CarrierSolutions@arccorp.com