"Harrah's, along with AirTran Airways, made a strong commitment today to the local community to help re-grow the Coast to a vibrant tourist and gamingdestination," said Mickey Parenton, vice president of casino marketing, Harrah's Entertainment Gulf Coast Region, parent company of Grand Casino Biloxi (NYSE: HET).

"We are thrilled to partner with AirTran Airways to reintroduce direct flight service from the Tampa/St. Pete area to Gulfport/Biloxi," said Bradley Rhines, vice president of marketing & player development at the IP Hotel &Casino. "Florida is an important market for the Mississippi Gulf Coast, andwe are very enthusiastic about reestablishing these flights and welcoming our Tampa and Fort Lauderdale area guests back to the Mississippi Gulf Coast."

"I am very pleased that AirTran Airways will add new daily flights from Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport to Tampa and Fort Lauderdale ," said U.S. Sen. Trent Lott (R-MS). "The commitment of AirTran Airways and its partners isa wonderful illustration of the spirit of business and industry on theMississippi Gulf Coast, and it's a great example of the optimism and confidence so many national and international businesses have in Mississippi's economic recovery."

"I believe that AirTran Airways' announcement that it will begin nonstopservice from Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport to Tampa and FortLauderdale is very significant for the economic rebirth of the MississippiGulf Coast after Hurricane Katrina," said U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran (R-MS). "Airservice to these cities was successful before the storm, and with thereopening of the Beau Rivage, new Grand Casino Biloxi and the IP CasinoResort, access to these markets sends a very positive message to the Nation that the Coast is back in business."

Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport Authority Chairman Travis Lott stated, "Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport welcomes the return of AirTranAirways' service to Tampa and Fort Lauderdale , two of our most important leisure and business markets. The private sector coalition between AirTran Airways, Beau Rivage, the new Grand Casino Biloxi and the IP Casino Resort will be a major stimulus to tourism, business and industry."