Flight Center announces grand opening of remodeled facility, launches four-star catering operation with executive chef.

SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 3, 1996--After more than a year of extensive remodeling, Flight Center has completed major, top-to-bottom renovations of its corporate air services facility at Seattle's Boeing Field.

As part of the first-class upgrade, the company also recently opened a new four-star in-flight catering operation with an on-site executive chef.

"From our new terminal and quick-turn refueling to our gourmet food and competitive prices, we designed our new facility with one goal in mind: to provide our customers with the first-class comfort and service," said Howard Trott, Flight Center's general manager.

Capping the renovation was the recent addition of Flight Center Catering, a full-service in-flight catering operation specializing in Northwest cuisine, such as charbroiled Alaska king salmon.

Flight Center hired an experienced food and wine consultant to help design one of the most professional, fully equipped in-flight catering operations in the industry. Customers can even watch their meals being prepared fresh through a viewing window installed in Flight Centers main lobby.

"When was the last time your in-flight meals tasted like they were catered by a gourmet restaurant?" Trott asked. "With Flight Center Catering only steps from the tarmac, our customers will be treated to the finest, freshest in-flight meals around."

To oversee the catering operation, Flight Center brought on board Doug Day as executive chef. Day has extensive restaurant experience having served most recently as assistant manager chef at the Arizona Biltmore Resort in Phoenix.

Flight Center's new terminal, located just off the Alpha 9 runway exit at Boeing Field, features a comfortable and casual Northwest feel with warm, natural woods and a palette of natural colors, such as blues and greens. The professional kitchen features a bright, inviting palette of blues and yellows.

In other recent developments, Flight Center:

--------------------------------------------

Developed a new, professionally designed corporate identity and letterhead, including a sharp new two-tone blue logo with a corporate jet flying through the words Flight Center.

Launched a new aircraft sales department. Flight Center Aircraft Sales, headed by 23-year aircraft sales veteran Brad Wollen, specializes in corporate turbo-prop aircraft, helicopters and jets, including such leading aircraft as the King Air 200, Citations, Falcon 50/900 and Gulfstream IV/V. Flight Center Aircraft Sales can be reached at 206-762-2250.

Ordered three 5,000-gallon Trailmaster fuel trucks to dramatically improve quick-turn refueling. The trucks pump up to 600 gallons per minute. Flight Center also recently completed its new fuel farm, which holds 60,000 gallons of jet fuel and 15,000 gallons of aviation gas.

Flight Center offers a full range of flight-support services for corporate and private customers, including weather briefing, ground handling, customer and pilot lounges, concierge services and heated hangar space.

The 500,000-square-foot Flight Center facility has 38,000 square feet of hangar space and about 13,000 square feet of office and terminal space. Two large private Flight Center hangars hold between four and seven planes each. The fixed-base operation also has eight executive single-plane hangars as well as ramp tie-downs.

CONTACT: Roger Nyhus, 206/720-1739