NAA to launch Washington-Banjul-Accra

JAMAICA, N.Y., April 11 -- North American Airlines, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of World Air Holdings, Inc. WLDA, will inaugurate weekly scheduled service linking Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) to Banjul, The Gambia and Accra, Ghana beginning June 4, 2006, pending approval from The Gambian government. This new service will operate non-stop to Banjul and continue to Accra.

North American is the only U.S. airline serving Africa with scheduled service currently operating non-stop between New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport and Accra.


"There is significant demand in the Baltimore/Washington, D.C., area for direct flights to Africa, and North American's Boeing 767-300ER service will greatly reduce flying time between BWI and the cities of Banjul and Accra in West Africa," said Jeff MacKinney, president of World Air Holdings, Inc., at a news conference today at BWI to announce the new service. "Customers also will appreciate our new Business Class service with all-leather seating, 55-inch seat pitch, 135-degree recline and 100 hours of on-demand, in-flight entertainment."


Maryland Lt. Governor Michael S. Steele said, "The State of Maryland thanks North American Airlines for providing this new scheduled air service from BWI Marshall to West Africa. It will create new opportunities and advance the exchange of goods, services, and ideas. The airline's weekly flight will foster economic and cultural exchange between the State of Maryland and the countries of West Africa."


With the launch of Baltimore/Washington service June 4 and an additional flight at JFK beginning June 3, North American will have a total of three weekly, direct flights between the United States and West Africa.

"We are extremely grateful for the support we have received from the Maryland Aviation Administration and the State of Maryland, which have committed to jointly promote this new service with North American through marketing efforts," MacKinney said. "We look forward to providing this important link that many customers want between the Baltimore/Washington metropolitan area and West Africa."


The flight schedule effective June 4 will be:

The flight schedule effective June 4 will be:

     BWI to Banjul/Accra 
-  Depart BWI   -       11:55 p.m. Sunday 
 - Arrive Banjul -       12:15 p.m. Monday 
 - Depart Banjul -        1:15 p.m. Monday 
 - Arrive Accra  -        4:30 p.m. Monday



 Accra/Banjul to BWI 
 - Depart Accra  -       11:30 a.m. Sunday 
 - Arrive Banjul -        2:45 p.m. Sunday 
 - Depart Banjul -        4:15 p.m. Sunday 
 - Arrive BWI    -        8:45 p.m. Sunday