New Service Connects Triangle To Indianapolis

Airlines add new flights at RDU as passenger numbers continue to outpace 2003
RDU Airport, NC – Northwest Airlines yesterday announced nonstop service between Raleigh-Durham International Airport and Indianapolis. The airline will offer the only service between the two regions with two daily nonstop flights beginning October 31. Indianapolis is home to leading pharmaceutical and automotive companies and medical centers with ties to the Triangle.

Northwest Airlink partner Pinnacle Airlines will operate the flights using 44-seat Canadair Regional Jets (CRJs).

Flights to Indianapolis will depart RDU at 9:35 a.m. and 7:55 p.m. Flights will arrive at RDU from Indianapolis at 8:55 a.m. and 7:25 p.m.

Northwest's announcement is the latest addition to RDU's growing number of flights. Today, RDU offers Triangle travelers 240 daily departures to 39 cities, up from 202 in the summer of 2003.

As the number of daily departures from RDU has grown, so have the number of passengers the airport serves. The number of passengers traveling through RDU in the first six months of 2004 increased 7 percent compared to the same period last year.

On June 16, Independence Air launched service between RDU and its hub at Washington Dulles International Airport with nine daily departures. Today, the low cost carrier offers 14 daily departures to Dulles with continuing service to 35 cities in the Midwest and Northeast.

Earlier this month Southwest Airlines began four daily departures to Philadelphia and will add additional service to Orlando this fall.

American Airlines continued to grow its service at RDU with the addition of Providence, Rhode Island on July 1. The airline will begin service to Austin, Texas with two daily departures on October 1.

###