ATLANTIC SOUTHEAST AIRLINES, INC. ANNOUNCES SEPTEMBER 1997 TRAFFIC RESULTS.

ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 8, 1997--ASA Holdings, Inc.'s (NASD:ASAI) Atlantic Southeast Airlines, Inc. flew 75.9 million revenue passenger miles during September 1997, a 6.5 per cent increase over the same period last year, according to John W. Beiser, president of the Atlanta-based airline. ASA's load factor was 50.1% compared with 48.7% during September 1996. Available seat miles increased to 151.3 million from 146.4 million, a 3.4% increase. The airline enplaned 314,198 passengers, a 5.5% increase over the previous September.

On a year-to-date basis, ASA carried 2,818,231 passengers compared with 2,754,461 during 1996, a 2.3% increase. Revenue passenger miles totaled 686.2 million compared with 662.3 million, a 3.6% increase. Available seat miles increased 1.3% from 1.340 billion to 1.358 billion. The load factor on a year-to-date basis was 50.5% compared with 49.4% during the previous year.

ASA Holdings, Inc. operates Atlantic Southeast Airlines, Inc., Atlanta's largest regional air carrier, and offers service to 22 cities from a second hub in Dallas, Texas. ASA's stock is traded on the National Market System under the Nasdaq symbol ASAI. -0-

                   ATLANTIC SOUTHEAST AIRLINES, INC.
                          Traffic Statistics

                                   Month Ended September 30,

                             1997         1996      Variance    % Change
Passengers                   314,198       297,690      16,508    5.5%
Revenue passenger miles   75,894,352    71,245,339   4,649,013    6.5%
Available seat miles     151,339,902   146,388,282   4,951,620    3.4%
Departures                    15,816        15,983        (167)  (1.0%)
Load factor                     50.1%         48.7%    1.4pts.       -

                                Nine Months Ended September 30,

                           1997           1996       Variance  % Change
Passengers                 2,818,231     2,754,461      63,770    2.3%
Revenue passenger miles  686,179,899   662,281,549  23,898,350    3.6%
Available seat miles   1,357,633,814 1,340,154,296  17,479,518    1.3%
Departures                   142,689       145,148      (2,459)  (1.7%)
Load factor                     50.5%        49.4%    1.1pts.        -

CONTACT: ASA Holdings Inc., Atlanta

Ronald V. Sapp, 404/766-1400

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