American Eagle Dedicates Make-A-Wish® Regional Jet

Make-A-Wish Foundation of America
Tuesday, 30 October 2001

(DFW Airport, Texas) October 30, 2001 – American Eagle, regional affiliate of American Airlines, today unveiled its latest regional jet, a 44-seat plane that is painted with the colors and logo of the Make-A-Wish Foundation®. The plane includes four works of art depicting the wishes of four Make-A-Wish kids who collaborated on the aircraft paint scheme.

"We're proud to be the place where wishes take flight for these special children and their families," said American Eagle President Peter Bowler. "For years, American Eagle and American Airlines employees have had a close relationship with the Make-A-Wish Foundation, and this plane is a tribute to that relationship and the great work that the Foundation does on behalf of kids and their families."

Make-A-Wish Foundation of America President and CEO Paula Van Ness flew to Dallas/Fort Worth Airport to help dedicate the plane.

"The vast majority of wishes we grant include travel, so this plane is a great symbol of what our mission is all about," Van Ness said. "American Airlines has been such a generous partner with us for more than a decade, giving flight to unforgettable travel dreams for thousands of our wish kids and their families."

"For that, American holds such a special place in the hearts of Make-A-Wish children, families, volunteers, supporters, and staff," continued Van Ness. "We are honored that they have added this very special plane to their fleet."

The plane is an ERJ-140 that was manufactured in Brazil and will be based at Chicago O'Hare International Airport where Eagle is the only regional jet carrier to offer all jet service. It joins a fleet of American Eagle regional jets that numbers more than 100, a significant build-up since the company put its first regional jet into action in May of 1998.

With a combined fleet of more than 275 jet and turboprop aircraft, American Eagle offers more than 1,400 daily flights to 130 cities throughout the United States, Canada, the Bahamas, Mexico, and the Caribbean.

The Make-A-Wish Foundation grants the wishes of children with life-threatening illnesses to enrich the human experience with hope, strength, and joy. It is the largest wish-granting organization in the world, with 80 chapters in the United States and its territories, and 22 international affiliates on five continents. Since being founded in 1980, the Make-A-Wish Foundation has granted more than 83,000 wishes to children with life-threatening illnesses.

For more information, or to contact Make-A-Wish Foundation of America, see their website at: www.wish.org