MetroAir Senior Staff visit Hamburg

http://www.metroairvirtual.com/images/metnewsdesk2.jpgMetroAir Senior Staff visit HamburgROMULUS, MI, January 29th 2007 -- With barely 10 days to go before the first of MetroAir's new Airbus A319s enter service, two of the airline's senior staff members travelled over to Airbus' production line at Finkenwerder in Hamburg, to oversee some of the final preparations being made and meet with Airbus executives before returning to the U.S. to welcome the new aircraft there.Chief Operating Officer Tom Collins and Chief Financial Officer Clint Watson were treated to a tour of the production facilities, where Airbus assembles its much-celebrated A319 and A321 models. Mr Collins was "extremely impressed" by the facility. "All that we've seen this week reassures us that our decision to commit to this order with Airbus was correct and prudent. We witnessed our first aircraft's first flight earlier this morning, and whilst it is not yet painted in our new signature livery, it was nonetheless impressive to see her fly for the first time".CFO Clint Watson shares Collins' excitement. Responding to the question of how it felt to watch the aircraft take to the skies, he said: "Whilst it is of course fantastic to see months of hard work at the office begin to come to fruition, we very much look forward to seeing her fly the U.S. skies next month. This, and the following Airbus A319s we will receive, will enable us to maintain our aggressive growth strategy in North America, taking on the majors and providing customers with a product set apart from the competition".A few members of the press were able to join the delegation on the strict basis of no photographs, however images of the new aircraft on its first flight were leaked to Associated Press earlier today.http://www.metroairvirtual.com/files/TomC/a319_manu_1.jpghttp://www.metroairvirtual.com/files/TomC/a319_manu_2.jpghttp://www.metroairvirtual.com/files/TomC/a319_manu_5.jpg