SAAB USA, SKYMEDIA INTERNATIONAL TURN TO THE SKIES WITH INNOVATIVE AIRLINE MEDIA CAMPAIGN

Will Launch Groundbreaking Promotional Campaign on
America West Airlines in June


New York—May 23, 2005 SkyMedia International, the company that introduced airline tray-table advertising to North America in 2003, today announced that it will roll out an integrated marketing campaign in airline-based advertising this June. The program, developed in conjunction with America West Airlines (NYSE:AWA) and Saab USA, a division of General Motors Corporation (NYSE: GM), will include a never-before-used combination of promotional components on a U.S. air carrier.

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The three-month campaign will promote the all-new 9-7X, Saab’s first-ever SUV, on half of America West Airlines’ fleet using three distinct mediums: 9,000 tastefully designed tray table advertisements, 9 million printed cocktail napkins and special flight attendant announcements on 900 flights per day – the first time these three mediums have been used concurrently during a single promotion on any commercial airline carrier.               

America West passengers will be invited to visit a specific website to learn more about the promotion in which Saab USA and SkyMedia will donate one million FlightFund® Miles to the Miles of Hope charity program.

The campaign, which launches June 1, will be further supported with in-flight magazine print ads, in-flight video commercials and a Saab banner ad on the America West Airlines’ web site home page, www.americawest.com.  

 “This targeted, comprehensive media campaign logically builds on the successful tray-table advertising program we introduced in late 2003,” said Nick Pajic, president of SkyMedia.  “With an average domestic flight time of almost 2 .5 hours, this multi-dimensional campaign will provide Saab USA a remarkable level of penetration, impact, and recall to an extremely desirable audience.”

Michael Levens, Saab USA marketing manager, noted, “Saab will introduce more new vehicles in 2005 than at any time in our 58-year history.  Our recent collaboration with America West Airlines offers us a creative, new medium with which to reach prospective customers with news of these new products.  We will also run ads that present Saab as the ultimate statement of individuality or the ‘Antidote to Sameness.’” 

The primary vehicle to be featured in the campaign is the 9-7X, Saab’s first-ever SUV.  The all-wheel drive, 300-hp V8 9-7X goes on sale this summer.  Saab’s full portfolio is depicted in one of two unique tray table designs.

“America West is proud to be the innovation leader among low-fare airlines,” said Travis Christ, vice president of marketing at America West Airlines. “On-board advertising of exceptional products is one more way to upgrade our customers’ low-fare experience by allowing us to keep fares low while maintaining the broadest array of product benefits offered by America West, including assigned seats, first class cabins and an award -winning frequent flyer program.”

SkyMedia launched its successful and well-received tray-table advertising product on America West aircraft in December 2003.

Terms of the agreement between SkyMedia International, Saab USA and America West Airlines were not disclosed.

SkyMedia International specializes in on-board aircraft advertising.  For more information about its tray table product and innovative advertising campaigns, please visit www.skymediabiz.com.  

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Saab Automobile AB and Saab USAis the importer of Saab 9-2X, 9-3 and 9-5 automobiles for Saab Automobile AB, Sweden.  For more information, please visit www.saabusa.com.

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Millions of America West customers upgrade their low-fare experience when they get on board America West. The airline's 14,000 employees are proud to offer a range of services including more destinations than any other low-cost carrier, first-class cabins, assigned seating, airport clubs and an award-winning frequent flyer program. America West operates more than 900 flights daily to 96 destinations in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Costa Rica. Additional information on America West can be accessed at www.americawest.com. (AWAG)