<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM AIRNET
SYSTEMS INC'S ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K FOR THE YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 
1996 & QUARTERLY REPORTS ON FORM 10-Q FOR THE INTERIM PERIODS ENDED 
SEPTEMBER 30, JUNE 30 & MARCH 31, 1997 & DECEMBER 31, 1996, & IS QUALIFIED 
IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<RESTATED> 
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
<S>                             <C>                     <C>                     <C>                     <C>
<C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS                   6-MOS                   6-MOS                   3-MOS
YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997             DEC-31-1997             SEP-30-1997             SEP-30-1997
             SEP-30-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997             JAN-01-1997             OCT-01-1996             OCT-01-1996
             OCT-01-1995
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1997             JUN-30-1997             MAR-31-1997             DEC-31-1996
             SEP-30-1996
<CASH>                                           4,729                   7,771                   9,632                   9,632
                  11,564
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0                       0                       0
                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   12,101                   9,378                   8,469                   6,671
                   7,653
<ALLOWANCES>                                        77                      66                      77                      23
                      14
<INVENTORY>                                      6,204                   5,841                   5,411                   5,012
                   5,196
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                30,057                  28,092                  27,964                  25,029
                  27,452
<PP&E>                                         102,863                  98,371                  90,792                  88,831
                  81,530
<DEPRECIATION>                                  47,698                  45,734                  43,427                  43,173
                  40,708
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  93,917                  86,009                  82,124                  79,495
                  75,866
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                            8,611                   4,952                   4,899                   5,269
                   5,986
<BONDS>                                              0                       0                       0                       0
                       0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0                       0                       0
                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0                       0                       0
                       0
<COMMON>                                           127                     126                     126                     126
                     125
<OTHER-SE>                                      76,781                  77,533                  73,720                  70,592
                  66,162
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                    93,917                  86,009                  82,124                  79,495
                  75,866
<SALES>                                          1,088                     763                     809                     366
                   1,064
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                71,544                  45,297                  43,026                  20,791
                  79,952
<CGS>                                              860                     576                     592                     309
                   1,033
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   48,956                  30,256                  29,679                  14,383
                  53,796
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                 5,605                   4,080                   4,011                   1,916
                  25,579
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0                       0                       0                       0
                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                  25                       1                      10                      10
                   1,072
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 16,958                  10,960                   9,326                   4,173
                 (1,529)
<INCOME-TAX>                                     6,763                   4,364                   3,748                   1,688
                   4,200
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             10,195                   6,596                   5,578                   2,485
                 (5,729)
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0                       0                       0
                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0                       0                       0
                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0                       0                       0
                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                    10,195                   6,596                   5,578                   2,485
                 (5,729)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .81                     .52                     .44                     .20
                   (.34)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .80                     .52                     .44                     .20
                   (.34)
        

</TABLE>