FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PORTLAND, ORE. (July 7, 2009) – Statement from Port Executive Director Bill Wyatt Regarding Lufthansa’s Suspension of Frankfurt Nonstop Service from PDX

The suspension of the Lufthansa service to Frankfurt effective September 12 is very sad news for all of us for a number of reasons, not the least of which has been our excellent working relationship with Lufthansa.  We greatly appreciate their six years of outstanding service (est. March 31, 2003) to Oregon and Southwest Washington, but fully understand the challenges that all airlines face in the current global economic climate.  Our hope is that as the economy improves, Lufthansa will resume its service to PDX.

Lufthansa, one of the world’s great carriers, is more than just a great business partner.  They are also a friend.

Lufthansa has helped us meet our community need for nonstop passenger and cargo access to Europe and beyond.  Guided by the International Air Service Committee, businesses and governments have creatively worked together from the initial risk mitigation strategy, helping bring Lufthansa to PDX, to more recent service retention strategies, waiving landing fees for international carriers.  PDX will still provide nonstop passenger service to Europe via Delta Air Lines, which currently connects with Delta’s Amsterdam hub six days per week.

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