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NEW MEXICO AIRLINES 

Contact: Kahea Reinhardt 

New Mexico Airlines 

808-283-4433 

FOR NATIONAL RELEASE 

12:00 PM MST, January 7, 2011 

CLOVIS LANDS NEW AIRLINE 

(CLOVIS) New Mexico Airlines is launching new service between 

Albuquerque and Clovis, New Mexico, with three daily nonstop 

flights starting May 1, 2011. 

Flights will depart Albuquerque for Clovis every day at 8:00 AM, 

5:00 PM and 6:00 PM. Flights will depart Clovis for Albuquerque 

at 9:15 AM, 6:15 PM and 7:15 PM daily. Duration of all flights 

is approximately one hour. 

New Mexico Airlines has served Carlsbad, Alamogordo and Hobbs, 

New Mexico for approximately four years. Airline President 

Gabriel Kimbrell says the company has been interested in Clovis 

for some time, but found market entry complicated by the city's 

long-term dependence on federal air transportation subsidies. 

MORE 
CLOVIS LANDS NEW AIRLINE 2-2-2 

Clovis currently receives air service from a government 

contractor utilizing 30-year old, 19-seat aircraft at a cost to 

federal taxpayers of more than $300 per passenger. An average 

Clovis flight departs with about three passengers and 15 empty 

seats aboard. More than 80% of all airline seats purchased for 

Clovis by the United States Department of Transportation are 

never used. 

New Mexico Airlines will provide service utilizing more 

economical, factory-new, nine-seat aircraft with significantly 

reduced operating costs and carbon emissions. Fares will 

increase over current levels; however, the entire cost of 

service delivery will be borne by the airline and its 

passengers, rather than federal taxpayers. 

"When you consider US taxpayers are currently spending more than 

$300 just to make the seat available, and the passenger is 

paying as much as $200 more for their individual ticket, the 

combined cost of a one-way flight from Clovis to Albuquerque can 

easily exceed $500." Kimbrell said. 

The Airline President says New Mexico Airlines' $300 one-way 

internet fare between Albuquerque and Clovis saves up to $200 

over the current, combined cost of service delivery. 

MORE 
CLOVIS LANDS NEW AIRLINE 3-3-3 

"Getting people to try something new and more economical can be 

a challenge," says Kimbrell, "especially when somebody else is 

picking up the tab." Kimbrell believes shifting the financial 

burden from taxpayers to individuals utilizing the service makes 

more sense. "It's the only sustainable approach," he says. 

Kimbrell first introduced his business model to community 

leaders more than two years ago. City officials were 

complimentary, but uncomfortable with change. "They told us we 

had innovative ideas that made fiscal sense, but they did not 

want to be mavericks," Kimbrell said. 

The Airline President believed enough in his own business model 

to serve Clovis without federal subsidies. "Change is difficult 

for some. We didn't want to ask people to endorse something they 

have never tried, so we're doing it with our own money." 

Kimbrell said. 

The airline has eliminated an estimated $12 million or more in 

federal subsidies from six locations in Hawaii, New Mexico and 

Georgia since 2007. Locally, New Mexico Airlines has served 

Hobbs without subsidy for nearly two years. 

MORE 
CLOVIS LANDS NEW AIRLINE 4-4-4 

Kimbrell says government subsidies can play a vital role in air 

service development, but believes long-term dependence is not 

sustainable. "There has to be more to your business model than 

collecting subsidies. Otherwise, it's just airline welfare." 

Kimbrell says the airline is doing everything possible to 

contain the cost of fares for Clovis, including conducting 

business from the private. Fixed Base Operation adjacent to the 

Terminal at Clovis Airport. 

"There is no reason to utilize the terminal if we can run things 

from an FBO at significantly reduced cost. We can help contain 

fares by passing those savings along to our customers." Says 

Kimbrell, who welcomes ideas from customers and city leaders 

about ways to reduce costs and lower fares. 

Area resident Carlos Arias has been named as New Mexico 

Airlines' Director at Large for Clovis / Portales and Cannon Air 

Force Base. Arias will manage local community business and 

government relationships, and serve as the area liaison to 

Kimbrell. 

"Carlos has been conducting business at the Clovis Airport for 

years," said Kimbrell. "I think his local roots and common-sense 

MORE 
CLOVIS LANDS NEW AIRLINE 5-5-5 

approach are important to our success, and we are pleased to 

have him as our representative." 

Tickets for the new Clovis service are currently on sale for 

travel beginning May 1, 2011 at www. nev/mexicoairlines. com or 

through New Mexico Airlines' 24-hour toll-free reservations 

center at 888-564-6119. 

New Mexico Airlines is a division of Pacific Wings, L.L.C., a 

collection of airline brands serving communities throughout the 

United States for more than 35 years. 

- 30 -

it All fares listed on nevnnexicoalrlines.com are per customer and per 

flight, and include the base fare plus a federal excise tax and all fuel 

surcharges. Fares do not include (a) a federal segment fee of up to $3.70 

per U.S. domestic flight segment (a flight segment is defined as one 

takeoff and landing) of a passenger's itinerary; (b) up to $18 per round 

trip in airport assessed Passenger Facility Charges (PFCs); or (c) a 

September 11th Security Fee of up to $5 one-way.