Great Lakes Aviation Reports September Traffic; Moves Its Denver Operations To The "A" Concourse at Denver International Airport

CHEYENNE, Wyo., Oct. 8

Great Lakes Aviation, Ltd. (Nasdaq: GLUX) today announced preliminary passenger traffic results for the month of September. As a result of the tragic events of September 11, capacity was sharply reduced. Following the government required halt in flying on September 11, 12 and 13, service was gradually restored and by September 18, Great Lakes was operating 100 percent of its subsidized essential air service flying and approximately 80 percent of its remaining scheduled flights.

Scheduled service generated 10,351,924 revenue passenger miles (RPMs), a 50.4 percent decrease from the same month last year. Available seat miles (ASMs) decreased 37.0 percent to 28,151,767. As a result load factor decreased 9.9 points to 36.8 percent. The company carried 41,213 passengers, a 54.1 percent decrease compared to September, 2000.

For the quarter ended September 30, 2001 compared to the same three month period in 2000, RPMs decreased 25.5 percent to 53,848,761 while ASMs decreased 20.3 percent to 108,848,503 resulting in a load factor of 49.5 percent for 2001 compared to 52.9 percent for the same quarter in 2000. The company carried 213,141 passengers for the quarter ended September 30, 2001, a 31.2 percent decrease on a year over year basis.

For the nine month period ended September 30, 2001 compared to the same nine month period in 2000, RPMs decreased 15.9 percent to 165,558,891 while ASMs decreased 14.4 percent to 339,334,004 resulting in a load factor of 48.8 percent for 2001 compared to 49.6 percent for the same nine month period in 2000. The company carried 673,121 passengers for the nine months ended September 30, 2001, an 18.6 percent decrease on a year over year basis.

             SEPTEMBER, THIRD QUARTER AND YEAR TO DATE STATISTICS

                                     Sep. 2001    Sep. 2000     Change

    Passengers Enplaned                41,213       89,738     -54.1%
    Revenue Passenger Miles (000)      10,352       20,876     -50.4%
    Available Seat Miles (000)         28,152       44,693     -37.0%
    Load Factor                          36.8%        46.7%      -9.9 Pts.

                                      3Q, 2001     3Q, 2000     Change

    Passengers Enplaned               213,141      309,852     -31.2%
    Revenue Passenger Miles (000)      53,849       72,248     -25.5%
    Available Seat Miles (000)        108,849      136,596     -20.3%
    Load Factor                          49.5%        52.9%     -3.4 Pts.

                                     YTD  2001    YTD  2000     Change

    Passengers Enplaned               673,121      827,229     -18.6%
    Revenue Passenger Miles (000)     165,559      196,839     -15.9%
    Available Seat Miles (000)        339,334      396,454     -14.4%
    Load Factor                          48.8%        49.6%     -0.8 Pts.


 

Beginning September 30, 2001 all Great Lakes Airlines flights serving Denver International Airport were moved to the regional airline facility on the A Concourse. This ground level check-in and boarding area is located adjacent to parking positions and includes public telephones and rest room access. For passengers traveling to or from Denver only, the A Concourse gates may be reached either via a short walk from the main ticketing lobby through security check points with much shorter lines or through the main security checkpoint and the airport's underground train.

As of October 8, 2001, Great Lakes Airlines flights were being provided at 50 airports in 15 states with a fleet of eight Embraer EMB-120 Brasilias and 40 Beechcraft 1900D's. A total of 228 weekday flights are scheduled at four hubs, 184 flights at Denver, 24 at Chicago-O'Hare, 14 at Minneapolis-St. Paul, and six at Phoenix. All flights are operated under the Great Lakes Airlines marketing identity in conjunction with code-share agreements with United Airlines and Frontier Airlines.