ST. PETERSBURG, FL - April 1, 2010 —The Tampa Bay Rays and Avantair, Inc., (OTCBB: AAIR), the only publicly traded stand-alone private aircraft operator and the current leader of fractional aircraft ownership and jet cards in the light jet cabin category, have agreed to a multi-year sponsorship affiliation which includes naming rights for Tropicana Field’s exclusive Home Plate Club.  The partnership also makes Avantair the presenting sponsor of the visitors’ clubhouse at Tropicana Field.

The Avantair Home Plate Club, a 185-seat section behind home plate at Tropicana Field, provides its members with leather seats closer to home plate than the pitcher’s mound, a private entrance, lounge, sit-down dining area, VIP parking, an all-inclusive buffet and unlimited bar service.

“Tropicana Field’s Home Plate Club provides Rays fans with an all-inclusive experience that is unmatched in major league baseball.  It was a priority for us to find the right brand for this unique opportunity,” said Mark Fernandez, Sr. Vice President of the Rays.  “Avantair’s focus on being the fractional and jet card industry leader in both quality and value make them an ideal partner.  As a locally-based company, they have also taken a significant interest in our organization’s community outreach efforts and have made a substantial commitment to support those initiatives.  We’re proud to welcome Avantair into the Rays family of marketing partners.”

Avantair will also serve as the presenting sponsor of the Rays Charity Golf Classic at The Ritz-Carlton Members Golf Club in Bradenton, Fla., benefiting the Rays Baseball Foundation.

“Avantair is proud to sponsor the Tampa Bay Rays and to continue to support our local community.  We are excited about the opportunities that an alignment with the Rays brand presents.  Through the visibility of this unique sponsorship, we are confident we can further expand our brand recognition and awareness of the value in private air travel that Avantair offers,” said Steven Santo, Avantair founder and CEO.  “We wish the team the best of luck this season.”

Avantair, the only publicly traded stand-alone private aircraft operator and the sole North American provider of fractional shares and flight hour time cards in the Piaggio Avanti aircraft, is headquartered in Clearwater, Fla., with over 400 employees.  The company offers private travel solutions for individuals and businesses traveling within its service area, which includes the continental United States, Canada, the Caribbean and Mexico, at a fraction of the cost of whole aircraft ownership.  The company currently manages a fleet of 55 aircraft, with another 52 Piaggio Avanti aircraft on order through 2013.  For more information about Avantair, please visit www.avantair.com .

5 Days Until Opening Day, April 6 vs. Baltimore Orioles, 7:10 p.m.
--RAYS--
For more information please contact the Rays Communications Dept., (727) 825-3242.
The Tampa Bay Rays have proudly represented Major League Baseball in the Tampa Bay region since 1998. The organization and its foundation are committed to building a strong community bond through meaningful interaction and charitable contributions.

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