Surf Air Mobility and Purdue University Enter Agreement for Privately Subsidized Commuter Air Service Between West Lafayette / Purdue University Airport (LAF) and Chicago O’Hare Airport (ORD)

Surf Air Mobility Inc. (NYSE: SRFM) (“Surf Air Mobility”), an air mobility platform transforming regional flying through electrification, and Purdue University (“Purdue”) have agreed to begin scheduled commuter air service between West Lafayette / Purdue University Airport (LAF) and Chicago O’Hare Airport (ORD) with a target start date in early second quarter 2024. Purdue University will provide funds to support the establishment and ongoing operations of the air service. The flight operations will be run by Southern Airways Express (“Southern”), an airline subsidiary of Surf Air Mobility.

The goal of this program is to provide Purdue University’s students, faculty, staff, and families, as well as residents and businesses of West Lafayette, with easier, faster connections to the world via the fourth busiest airport in America (ORD) with the underutilized regional airport immediately adjacent to Purdue’s campus (LAF). With air service directly into LAF, travelers arriving via O’Hare will be able to skip the multi-hour drive and fly directly to West Lafayette on one of up to four daily flights.

Surf Air Mobility has existing federal contracts through the Essential Air Service (“EAS”) program, operating subsidized routes connecting communities that otherwise lack access to minimal air service. The agreement with Purdue University replicates the EAS model with a private institution, without the need for federal funding.

“We’re excited to take the basic principle of the EAS program and build on its success with Purdue University,” said Stan Little, CEO of Surf Air Mobility. “We hope this will be a model we can replicate with other non-urban universities and private companies in the future. As the growth in Regional Air Mobility continues, partners like Purdue University will be integral to accelerating a new kind of mass transportation solution that uses smaller aircraft connecting smaller regional airports to the nation’s air infrastructure.”

With 24 weekly round trip flights currently planned, the agreement will bring scheduled air service back to this route for the first time in nearly 20 years. Through Southern’s interline and distribution agreements with United, American, and Alaska, West Lafayette passengers will be able to have a seamless connection experience at the hub, including through-bag transfer, and they will also be able to purchase tickets on United.com, AA.com, and AlaskaAir.com.