AirTran Airways
Encyclopedia
AirTran Airways, a subsidiary
of the Dallas, Texas
-based Southwest Airlines
, is an American
low-cost
airline
headquartered in Orlando, Florida
. AirTran operates over 650 daily flights (as of November 2011), primarily in the eastern
and midwestern United States
. AirTran's principal hubs are Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
, where it operates over 195 daily departures (as of November 2011), Orlando International Airport
, General Mitchell International Airport
in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
, and Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport
. AirTran's fleet consists of Boeing 717
aircraft, of which it is the largest operator, and Boeing 737-700
aircraft.
On May 2, 2011, Southwest Airlines successfully acquired AirTran Airways for US$1.4 billion.
in Georgia
, United States
. The founders were airline industry veterans, including an executive group from the former Southern Airways
and pilots, mechanics and flight attendants from the defunct Eastern Air Lines
.
Created to fill the void at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport after Eastern Air Lines' demise, ValuJet Airlines started with two former Delta Air Lines DC-9
aircraft, and the first commercial flight occurred between Atlanta and Tampa on October 26, 1993. The airline was the first to launch ticketless travel in 1993.
In early 1994, barely eight months after launching service between Atlanta and three Florida cities, the airline went public by listing its stock on the NASDAQ and trading under the ticker symbol VJET.
In August 1995, the Department of Defense
(DoD) rejected ValuJet's bid to fly military personnel citing serious deficiencies in ValuJet's quality assurance procedures and an accident rate 14 times higher than the United States' big airlines.
In late 1995, the airline placed an order with the then McDonnell Douglas Corporation to be the launch customer for the MD-95 aircraft (now known as the Boeing 717
). Serving as the launch customer meant the airline would have significant input into the design of the aircraft.
At the end of 1995, ValuJet was named as the top company in the Georgia 100 as published by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and the airline posted high margins with a $67 million net profit on revenues of $367 million.
The Federal Aviation Administration
's (FAA) Atlanta field office sent a memo on February 14, 1996, to Washington, D.C.
, stating that "consideration should be given to the immediate FAR-121 rectification of this airline"--in other words, the FAA wanted ValuJet grounded. ValuJet planes made 15 emergency landings in 1994, 57 in 1995, and 57 from January through May 1996. In February the FAA ordered ValuJet to seek approval before adding any new aircraft or cities to its network, something the industry had not seen since deregulation in 1979. This attempt at removing ValuJet's certification was "lost in the maze at FAA" according to NTSB Chairman Jim Hall.
By this time, ValuJet's accident rate was fourteen times that of legacy carriers. On May 11, 1996, ValuJet suffered its highest-profile incident when its Flight 592, a DC-9 jetliner flying from Miami to Atlanta, plunged into the Florida Everglades, killing all 110 aboard. After the Flight 592
crash, many of ValuJet's other cost-cutting practices came under scrutiny. It had allowed one plane to fly 140 times despite a leaky hydraulic system, and allowed another plane to fly 31 times with a malfunctioning weather radar. The resulting investigation revealed numerous systemic flaws, and on June 17, 1996, ValuJet was grounded by the FAA. On September 26, 1996, ValuJet resumed flying with 15 jets, down from 52 before the crash, after complying with all U.S. Department of Transportation and FAA requirements. On November 4, 1996, ValuJet announced that Joseph Corr, former CEO of Continental Airlines
, would become CEO and President of the airline at a time when the airline was in serious trouble. It had lost $55 million since the crash of Flight 592.
After the large amount of negative publicity surrounding the Flight 592 incident, ValuJet suffered serious financial problems. On July 11, 1997, ValuJet announced it would merge with the much smaller Airways Corporation, parent of AirTran Airways. The merged company would retain the AirTran name, although ValuJet was the senior partner and nominal survivor of the merger. In November 1997, the company announced it would move its headquarters from Atlanta to Orlando. On November 17, 1997, AirWays Corp. and ValuJet completed their merger, and the tarnished ValuJet name passed into aviation history.
On July 10, 1997, ValuJet, Inc., the holding company for ValuJet Airlines, Inc., announced plans to acquire Airways Corporation, Inc., the holding company for AirTran Airways, Inc. of Orlando, Florida. The deal was scheduled to close on November 17, 1997.
On September 24, 1997, ValuJet Airlines changed its name to AirTran Airlines. On November 17, 1997, ValuJet, Inc., acquired Airways, Inc., and renamed the holding company, AirTran Holdings, Inc. In the summer of 1998, the two airlines merged onto the same FAA certificate and the AirTran Airways name survived. While the hub remained in Atlanta, the headquarters of the new entity was combined in Orlando, Florida, on January 28, 1998.
In January 1999, a new management team led by Joe Leonard, a veteran of Eastern Air Lines, and Robert L. Fornaro
, of US Airways, took the reins at the airline.
On August 15, 2001, the company's stock began trading under the ticker symbol AAI on the New York Stock Exchange.
In October 2003, AirTran began services to Washington, D.C.
's Reagan National Airport, and to San Francisco the following month.
aircraft.
On January 5, 2004, AirTran's last Douglas DC-9 was retired, leaving it with a fleet of more than 70 Boeing 717s. The first Boeing 737 entered AirTran's fleet in June 2004, ending the service by Ryan.
On May 23, 2006, AirTran accepted one of the last two Boeing 717s delivered in a ceremony with Midwest Airlines, who accepted the other 717.
In 2009, AirTran Airways was the first airline to outfit all of its aircraft
with wi-fi
service.
' 14 gates. Southwest Airlines
made a higher bid for the gates, and AirTran lost the deal.
In December 2006, Air Tran Holdings announced that it had been trying to acquire Midwest Air Group
. On August 12, 2007, AirTran announced its attempt to purchase Midwest Airlines
had expired, while TPG Capital, in partnership with Northwest Airlines
, had entered into an agreement to purchase Midwest Airlines for an amount larger than the AirTran Airways' proposal. However, on August 14, 2007, AirTran increased its offer to the equivalent of $16.25 a share, slightly more than the $16 a share from TPG Capital investors group. However, Midwest announced TPG would increase its offer to $17 per share and a definitive agreement had been reached late on August 16, 2007.
In November 2007, Robert L. Fornaro
took over as CEO, as well as President. Joe Leonard remained Chairman of the Board of Directors until June 2008. Upon his retirement, Fornaro then became Chairman, CEO and President.
On January 1, 2009, AirTran Airways removed nine Muslim
passengers, including three children, from a flight and turned them over to the Federal Bureau of Investigation
(FBI) after one of the men commented to another that they were sitting right next to the engines and wondered aloud where the safest place to sit on the plane was. Although the FBI subsequently cleared the passengers and called the incident a "misunderstanding," AirTran refused to seat the passengers on another flight, forcing them to purchase last minute tickets on another airline that had been secured with the FBI's assistance. A spokesman for AirTran initially defended the airline's actions and said they would not reimburse the passengers for the cost of the new tickets. Although the men had traditional beards and the women headscarves, AirTran denied that their actions were based on the passengers' appearance. The following day, after the incident received widespread media coverage, AirTran reversed its position and issued a public apology, adding that it would reimburse the passengers for the cost of their rebooked tickets.
(Charleston, WV); Asheville Regional Airport
, NC; and Harrisburg International Airport
, PA.
On April 6, 2010 AirTran Airways opened its second crew base, at General Mitchell International Airport
in Milwaukee, the same day they also announced that Milwaukee is officially their second hub.
On July 27, 2010, AirTran Airways hosted the grand opening of their new System Operations Control (SOC) Center at Orlando International Airport. This 16000 square feet (1,486.4 m²), $6.9 million state-of-the-art command center serves as the 24-hour nerve center for the entire airline with over 700 flights per day. The company employs more than 1,000 Crew Members in Central Florida at several facilities, including its corporate headquarters, the SOC and a maintenance facility in addition to its passengers operations at the airport. After considering putting the SOC Center in Atlanta where AirTran has one of its hubs, the decision was made to expand the facility in Orlando adjacent to AirTran’s headquarters.
On July 17, 2010, AirTran Airways announced plans to open a Crew Base in Orlando International Airport
in Orlando, Florida
. The base will initially employ 100 pilots, including a chief pilot. Orlando will join Atlanta
and Milwaukee
. In October 2010, a crew base opened in Orlando International Airport
in Orlando, Florida
.
As of November 2010, AirTran has grown to serve more than 70 cities coast-to-coast as well as in the Caribbean with more than 700 flights per day and over 8,500 crew members serving nearly 25 million passengers per year.
announced it would acquire Orlando
-based AirTran Airways for a total cost to Southwest of $1.4 billion. The acquisition would give Southwest a significant presence at many of AirTran’s hubs such as Atlanta
(the largest U.S. city without Southwest service), Milwaukee, WI
, and expanded service in Baltimore, MD and Orlando, FL
. With the merger, Southwest will now have international service to several leisure destinations such as Cancún, Montego Bay
and Aruba
. Southwest will integrate AirTran's fleet of Boeing 717s and Boeing 737-700
series aircraft into Southwest Airlines brand and livery. The airlines plan to have the acquisition completed and finalized within the next two years; until then, operations for both carriers will remain as separate airlines. The deal closed on May 2, 2011 and a single operating certificate for the combined carrier is expected to be achieved March 2, 2012.
On October 10, 2011, USA Today
reported that Southwest has announced that it will "unwind" and dismantle the Atlanta airport Airtran hub. The changes will ultimately affect Atlanta's overall daily flight operations up to a 13% loss. Southwest has been quiet about the hub changes until date. Many Airtran smaller market airports/routes may see more limited or eliminated service.
The Southwest Airlines
acquisition of AirTran Holdings Inc., former parent company of AirTran Airways closed on May 2, 2011 and a single operating certificate for the combined carrier is expected to be achieved March 2, 2012. Integration of employee groups between the two carriers has already begun, with total and complete integration of all employee groups expected to be completed by 2015.
The airline has clear job specialisation with the expectation of flexibility between jobs as required by day-to-day operational circumstances. AirTran’s training approach involves drawing the link between individual job performance, the airline’s overall financial performance and the importance of achieving high levels of customer service and efficiency.
As of March 31, 2011, AirTran has 140 aircraft in its fleet consisting of:
Prior to the Southwest acquisition, AirTran Airways had begun studies to replace the Boeing 717-200
aircraft. "AirTran would like to replace the 717-200 with a 100-120 seater aircraft. Likely replacements for the 717-200 airplane are either the Bombardier C-Series or Embraer E-Jets
but the company is not forgetting that Boeing could come out with a comparable aircraft to replace the 717-200" said by John Kirby, AirTran senior director of strategic planning and scheduling.
AirTran Airways was also looking at switching some Boeing 737-700
orders to the Boeing 737-800
series aircraft. The 737-800 is said to have "roughly 164 seats." says John Kirby, AirTran senior director of strategic planning and scheduling.
With Southwest purchasing the airline, the fleet of Boeing 717s will be retained along with the 737s. It is expected that these aircraft will be used on routes too small for the 737 and there has been speculation that the type will eventually replace the small fleet of 737-500s in the Southwest fleet, but no utilization plans have been announced by Southwest as of yet.
, as well as Gogo Inflight Internet
. Business class
includes rows 1–3 and coach begins with row 10; rows 4–9 are skipped for numbering purposes, and 13 is skipped due to superstition
. All Airtran Airways flights are served with a complimentary beverage service and small snack. All complimentary beverages offered are Coca-Cola products, and other beverages including juices, beer, and bottled water can be purchased in-flight.
is primarily white, with teal on the ventral side. The sections are divided by parallel red and blue stripes, which run horizontal at the front, and start to curve upward at the wings until they reach the top side of the plane at the back of the vertical stabilizer. The nacelle
s are royal blue, with "airtran.com" written in white Helvetica font. The logo version of "AirTran" is written toward the front on either side in teal above the passenger windows, and the vertical stabilizer is teal with a prominent white cursive "A", just like the beginning of the logo.
aircraft. These include an aircraft featuring Elton John
and Danica Patrick
. AirTran also partnered with the Orlando/Orange County CVB to create a Boeing 717
aircraft emblazoned with a "Say YES to Orlando" logo on each side and a second Boeing 717
saying "Orlando Makes Me Smile," which celebrated AirTran Airways' partnership with the OOCVB to promote travel to the city. The airline also has an aircraft paying tribute to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando.
Several aircraft feature sports-related livery
. The teams represented are the Atlanta Falcons
, Baltimore Ravens
, Indianapolis Colts
, Orlando Magic
, and Milwaukee Brewers
.
On February 12, 2010, AirTran Airways celebrated Little Debbie's 50th anniversary by launching a one-of-a-kind, custom-designed Boeing 717
, dubbed Little Debbie 1.
Subsidiary
A subsidiary company, subsidiary, or daughter company is a company that is completely or partly owned and wholly controlled by another company that owns more than half of the subsidiary's stock. The subsidiary can be a company, corporation, or limited liability company. In some cases it is a...
of the Dallas, Texas
Dallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
-based Southwest Airlines
Southwest Airlines
Southwest Airlines Co. is an American low-cost airline based in Dallas, Texas. Southwest is the largest airline in the United States, based upon domestic passengers carried,...
, is an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
low-cost
Low-cost carrier
A low-cost carrier or low-cost airline is an airline that generally has lower fares and fewer comforts...
airline
Airline
An airline provides air transport services for traveling passengers and freight. Airlines lease or own their aircraft with which to supply these services and may form partnerships or alliances with other airlines for mutual benefit...
headquartered in Orlando, Florida
Orlando, Florida
Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
. AirTran operates over 650 daily flights (as of November 2011), primarily in the eastern
Eastern United States
The Eastern United States, the American East, or simply the East is traditionally defined as the states east of the Mississippi River. The first two tiers of states west of the Mississippi have traditionally been considered part of the West, but can be included in the East today; usually in...
and midwestern United States
Midwestern United States
The Midwestern United States is one of the four U.S. geographic regions defined by the United States Census Bureau, providing an official definition of the American Midwest....
. AirTran's principal hubs are Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport , known locally as Atlanta Airport, Hartsfield Airport, and Hartsfield–Jackson, is located seven miles south of the central business district of Atlanta, Georgia, United States...
, where it operates over 195 daily departures (as of November 2011), Orlando International Airport
Orlando International Airport
Orlando International Airport is a major international airport located southeast of the central business district of Orlando. It is the second busiest airport in Florida, after Miami International Airport...
, General Mitchell International Airport
General Mitchell International Airport
General Mitchell International Airport is a county-owned public airport located five miles south of the central business district of Milwaukee, a city in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, United States....
in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee is the largest city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, the 28th most populous city in the United States and 39th most populous region in the United States. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County and is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. According to 2010 census data, the...
, and Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport
Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport
Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport is an international airport serving the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area in the United States. It is commonly called BWI, BWI Airport or BWI Marshall, BWI being an initialism for "Baltimore/Washington International" and the...
. AirTran's fleet consists of Boeing 717
Boeing 717
The Boeing 717 is a twin-engine, single-aisle jet airliner, developed for the 100-seat market. The airliner was designed and marketed by McDonnell Douglas as the MD-95, a third-generation derivative of the DC-9. Capable of seating of up to 117 passengers, the 717 has maximum range of...
aircraft, of which it is the largest operator, and Boeing 737-700
Boeing 737 Next Generation
The Boeing 737 Next Generation, commonly abbreviated as Boeing 737NG, is the name given to the -600/-700/-800/-900 series of the Boeing 737 after the introduction of the -300/-400/-500 Classic series. They are short- to medium-range, narrow-body jet airliners...
aircraft.
On May 2, 2011, Southwest Airlines successfully acquired AirTran Airways for US$1.4 billion.
ValuJet Airlines
AirTran Airways traces its roots to the 1992 founding of ValuJet AirlinesValuJet Airlines
ValuJet Airlines was an American low-cost carrier, headquartered in unincorporated Clayton County, Georgia, that operated regularly scheduled domestic and international flights in the Eastern United States and Canada during the 1990s...
in Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The founders were airline industry veterans, including an executive group from the former Southern Airways
Southern Airways
Southern Airways was a regional airline operating in the United States from its founding by Frank Hulse in 1949 until 1979 when it merged with North Central Airlines to become Republic Airlines, which on October 1, 1986, became part of Northwest Airlines, which in 2008 became a part of Delta Air...
and pilots, mechanics and flight attendants from the defunct Eastern Air Lines
Eastern Air Lines
Eastern Air Lines was a major United States airline that existed from 1926 to 1991. Before its dissolution it was headquartered at Miami International Airport in unincorporated Miami-Dade County, Florida.-History:...
.
Created to fill the void at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport after Eastern Air Lines' demise, ValuJet Airlines started with two former Delta Air Lines DC-9
McDonnell Douglas DC-9
The McDonnell Douglas DC-9 is a twin-engine, single-aisle jet airliner. It was first manufactured in 1965 with its maiden flight later that year. The DC-9 was designed for frequent, short flights. The final DC-9 was delivered in October 1982.The DC-9 was followed in subsequent modified forms by...
aircraft, and the first commercial flight occurred between Atlanta and Tampa on October 26, 1993. The airline was the first to launch ticketless travel in 1993.
In early 1994, barely eight months after launching service between Atlanta and three Florida cities, the airline went public by listing its stock on the NASDAQ and trading under the ticker symbol VJET.
In August 1995, the Department of Defense
United States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
(DoD) rejected ValuJet's bid to fly military personnel citing serious deficiencies in ValuJet's quality assurance procedures and an accident rate 14 times higher than the United States' big airlines.
In late 1995, the airline placed an order with the then McDonnell Douglas Corporation to be the launch customer for the MD-95 aircraft (now known as the Boeing 717
Boeing 717
The Boeing 717 is a twin-engine, single-aisle jet airliner, developed for the 100-seat market. The airliner was designed and marketed by McDonnell Douglas as the MD-95, a third-generation derivative of the DC-9. Capable of seating of up to 117 passengers, the 717 has maximum range of...
). Serving as the launch customer meant the airline would have significant input into the design of the aircraft.
At the end of 1995, ValuJet was named as the top company in the Georgia 100 as published by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and the airline posted high margins with a $67 million net profit on revenues of $367 million.
The Federal Aviation Administration
Federal Aviation Administration
The Federal Aviation Administration is the national aviation authority of the United States. An agency of the United States Department of Transportation, it has authority to regulate and oversee all aspects of civil aviation in the U.S...
's (FAA) Atlanta field office sent a memo on February 14, 1996, to Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, stating that "consideration should be given to the immediate FAR-121 rectification of this airline"--in other words, the FAA wanted ValuJet grounded. ValuJet planes made 15 emergency landings in 1994, 57 in 1995, and 57 from January through May 1996. In February the FAA ordered ValuJet to seek approval before adding any new aircraft or cities to its network, something the industry had not seen since deregulation in 1979. This attempt at removing ValuJet's certification was "lost in the maze at FAA" according to NTSB Chairman Jim Hall.
By this time, ValuJet's accident rate was fourteen times that of legacy carriers. On May 11, 1996, ValuJet suffered its highest-profile incident when its Flight 592, a DC-9 jetliner flying from Miami to Atlanta, plunged into the Florida Everglades, killing all 110 aboard. After the Flight 592
ValuJet Flight 592
ValuJet Flight 592 was a scheduled domestic passenger flight between Miami International Airport, Miami, Florida, and William B. Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport, Atlanta, Georgia...
crash, many of ValuJet's other cost-cutting practices came under scrutiny. It had allowed one plane to fly 140 times despite a leaky hydraulic system, and allowed another plane to fly 31 times with a malfunctioning weather radar. The resulting investigation revealed numerous systemic flaws, and on June 17, 1996, ValuJet was grounded by the FAA. On September 26, 1996, ValuJet resumed flying with 15 jets, down from 52 before the crash, after complying with all U.S. Department of Transportation and FAA requirements. On November 4, 1996, ValuJet announced that Joseph Corr, former CEO of Continental Airlines
Continental Airlines
Continental Airlines was a major American airline now merged with United Airlines. On May 3, 2010, Continental Airlines, Inc. and UAL, Inc. announced a merger via a stock swap, and on October 1, 2010, the merger closed and UAL changed its name to United Continental Holdings, Inc...
, would become CEO and President of the airline at a time when the airline was in serious trouble. It had lost $55 million since the crash of Flight 592.
After the large amount of negative publicity surrounding the Flight 592 incident, ValuJet suffered serious financial problems. On July 11, 1997, ValuJet announced it would merge with the much smaller Airways Corporation, parent of AirTran Airways. The merged company would retain the AirTran name, although ValuJet was the senior partner and nominal survivor of the merger. In November 1997, the company announced it would move its headquarters from Atlanta to Orlando. On November 17, 1997, AirWays Corp. and ValuJet completed their merger, and the tarnished ValuJet name passed into aviation history.
Inception of AirTran
The original AirTran Airways, a Boeing 737 operator with service to/from Orlando, was founded by AirTran Corporation, the holding company of Mesaba Airlines of Minneapolis, Minnesota, operating as a Northwest Airlink carrier with hubs in Minneapolis and Detroit. In 1994, AirTran Holdings purchased a start up 737 operator named Conquest Sun and renamed the airline AirTran Airways. Conquest Sun, similar to ValuJet, was an airline started by former Eastern Air Lines employees. The original AirTran Airways moved its headquarters to Orlando, Florida, and grew to 11 Boeing 737 aircraft serving 24 cities in the East and Midwest providing low-fare leisure travel to Orlando. In 1995, AirTran Airways was spun off by Mesaba and formed its own independent holding company named Airways Corporation.On July 10, 1997, ValuJet, Inc., the holding company for ValuJet Airlines, Inc., announced plans to acquire Airways Corporation, Inc., the holding company for AirTran Airways, Inc. of Orlando, Florida. The deal was scheduled to close on November 17, 1997.
On September 24, 1997, ValuJet Airlines changed its name to AirTran Airlines. On November 17, 1997, ValuJet, Inc., acquired Airways, Inc., and renamed the holding company, AirTran Holdings, Inc. In the summer of 1998, the two airlines merged onto the same FAA certificate and the AirTran Airways name survived. While the hub remained in Atlanta, the headquarters of the new entity was combined in Orlando, Florida, on January 28, 1998.
In January 1999, a new management team led by Joe Leonard, a veteran of Eastern Air Lines, and Robert L. Fornaro
Robert L. Fornaro
Robert L. Fornaro was the chairman, president and Chief Executive Officer of AirTran Holdings Inc., and its subsidiary, AirTran Airways in Orlando, Florida until AirTran merged with Southwest Airlines in May 2011, when he became a full time consultant on the merger, sitting on the integration...
, of US Airways, took the reins at the airline.
On August 15, 2001, the company's stock began trading under the ticker symbol AAI on the New York Stock Exchange.
In October 2003, AirTran began services to Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
's Reagan National Airport, and to San Francisco the following month.
Modernization
On July 1, 2003, AirTran placed an order for 100 Boeing 737Boeing 737
The Boeing 737 is a short- to medium-range, twin-engine narrow-body jet airliner. Originally developed as a shorter, lower-cost twin-engine airliner derived from Boeing's 707 and 727, the 737 has developed into a family of nine passenger models with a capacity of 85 to 215 passengers...
aircraft.
On January 5, 2004, AirTran's last Douglas DC-9 was retired, leaving it with a fleet of more than 70 Boeing 717s. The first Boeing 737 entered AirTran's fleet in June 2004, ending the service by Ryan.
On May 23, 2006, AirTran accepted one of the last two Boeing 717s delivered in a ceremony with Midwest Airlines, who accepted the other 717.
In 2009, AirTran Airways was the first airline to outfit all of its aircraft
Aircraft
An aircraft is a vehicle that is able to fly by gaining support from the air, or, in general, the atmosphere of a planet. An aircraft counters the force of gravity by using either static lift or by using the dynamic lift of an airfoil, or in a few cases the downward thrust from jet engines.Although...
with wi-fi
Gogo Inflight Internet
Gogo provides in-flight broadband Internet service, streaming video and other connectivity services for commercial and business aircraft. In June of 2011, the company formally changed its name from Aircell to Gogo as part of a rebranding effort...
service.
Failed acquisitions
In 2004, AirTran sought a major expansion at Chicago-Midway Airport by buying the leases of ATA AirlinesATA Airlines
ATA Airlines, Inc., formerly known as American Trans Air, was an American low-cost scheduled service and charter airline based in Indianapolis, Indiana. ATA operated scheduled passenger flights throughout the US mainland and Hawaii, as well as military and commercial charter flights around the world...
' 14 gates. Southwest Airlines
Southwest Airlines
Southwest Airlines Co. is an American low-cost airline based in Dallas, Texas. Southwest is the largest airline in the United States, based upon domestic passengers carried,...
made a higher bid for the gates, and AirTran lost the deal.
In December 2006, Air Tran Holdings announced that it had been trying to acquire Midwest Air Group
Midwest Air Group
Midwest Air Group, Inc. was an American airline holding company based in Oak Creek, Wisconsin which owned Midwest Airlines. It was ultimately controlled by parent company, TPG Capital Texas Pacific Group. Delta with the merger of Northwest Airlines Inc,...
. On August 12, 2007, AirTran announced its attempt to purchase Midwest Airlines
Midwest Airlines
Midwest Airlines was a U.S.-based airline and was also an operating brand of Republic Airways Holdings based in Oak Creek, Wisconsin. operating from Milwaukee's General Mitchell International Airport...
had expired, while TPG Capital, in partnership with Northwest Airlines
Northwest Airlines
Northwest Airlines, Inc. was a major United States airline founded in 1926 and absorbed into Delta Air Lines by a merger approved on October 29, 2008, making Delta the largest airline in the world...
, had entered into an agreement to purchase Midwest Airlines for an amount larger than the AirTran Airways' proposal. However, on August 14, 2007, AirTran increased its offer to the equivalent of $16.25 a share, slightly more than the $16 a share from TPG Capital investors group. However, Midwest announced TPG would increase its offer to $17 per share and a definitive agreement had been reached late on August 16, 2007.
Incidents and change
On September 21, 2007, AirTran pilots, represented by the National Pilots Association, rejected the carrier's contract proposal. Two weeks earlier, the pilots voted to dump the union president and vice president.In November 2007, Robert L. Fornaro
Robert L. Fornaro
Robert L. Fornaro was the chairman, president and Chief Executive Officer of AirTran Holdings Inc., and its subsidiary, AirTran Airways in Orlando, Florida until AirTran merged with Southwest Airlines in May 2011, when he became a full time consultant on the merger, sitting on the integration...
took over as CEO, as well as President. Joe Leonard remained Chairman of the Board of Directors until June 2008. Upon his retirement, Fornaro then became Chairman, CEO and President.
On January 1, 2009, AirTran Airways removed nine Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
passengers, including three children, from a flight and turned them over to the Federal Bureau of Investigation
Federal Bureau of Investigation
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is an agency of the United States Department of Justice that serves as both a federal criminal investigative body and an internal intelligence agency . The FBI has investigative jurisdiction over violations of more than 200 categories of federal crime...
(FBI) after one of the men commented to another that they were sitting right next to the engines and wondered aloud where the safest place to sit on the plane was. Although the FBI subsequently cleared the passengers and called the incident a "misunderstanding," AirTran refused to seat the passengers on another flight, forcing them to purchase last minute tickets on another airline that had been secured with the FBI's assistance. A spokesman for AirTran initially defended the airline's actions and said they would not reimburse the passengers for the cost of the new tickets. Although the men had traditional beards and the women headscarves, AirTran denied that their actions were based on the passengers' appearance. The following day, after the incident received widespread media coverage, AirTran reversed its position and issued a public apology, adding that it would reimburse the passengers for the cost of their rebooked tickets.
Expansion
By 2009 AirTran underwent major expansion in smaller cities such as Yeager AirportYeager Airport
Yeager Airport is a public-use airport located three nautical miles east of the central business district of Charleston, a city in Kanawha County, West Virginia, United States. It is owned by the Central West Virginia Regional Airport Authority...
(Charleston, WV); Asheville Regional Airport
Asheville Regional Airport
Asheville Regional Airport is a Class C airport near Interstate 40 and Interstate 26 near the town of Fletcher, south of the city of Asheville, in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is owned by the city of Asheville...
, NC; and Harrisburg International Airport
Harrisburg International Airport
-Statistics:-Air cargo:Harrisburg International Airport is well positioned with freight-forwarding capabilities. The airport is located adjacent to I-76 , I-83, and I-81, allowing for fast air-to-ground transfer of goods and commodities...
, PA.
On April 6, 2010 AirTran Airways opened its second crew base, at General Mitchell International Airport
General Mitchell International Airport
General Mitchell International Airport is a county-owned public airport located five miles south of the central business district of Milwaukee, a city in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, United States....
in Milwaukee, the same day they also announced that Milwaukee is officially their second hub.
On July 27, 2010, AirTran Airways hosted the grand opening of their new System Operations Control (SOC) Center at Orlando International Airport. This 16000 square feet (1,486.4 m²), $6.9 million state-of-the-art command center serves as the 24-hour nerve center for the entire airline with over 700 flights per day. The company employs more than 1,000 Crew Members in Central Florida at several facilities, including its corporate headquarters, the SOC and a maintenance facility in addition to its passengers operations at the airport. After considering putting the SOC Center in Atlanta where AirTran has one of its hubs, the decision was made to expand the facility in Orlando adjacent to AirTran’s headquarters.
On July 17, 2010, AirTran Airways announced plans to open a Crew Base in Orlando International Airport
Orlando International Airport
Orlando International Airport is a major international airport located southeast of the central business district of Orlando. It is the second busiest airport in Florida, after Miami International Airport...
in Orlando, Florida
Orlando, Florida
Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
. The base will initially employ 100 pilots, including a chief pilot. Orlando will join Atlanta
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
and Milwaukee
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee is the largest city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, the 28th most populous city in the United States and 39th most populous region in the United States. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County and is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. According to 2010 census data, the...
. In October 2010, a crew base opened in Orlando International Airport
Orlando International Airport
Orlando International Airport is a major international airport located southeast of the central business district of Orlando. It is the second busiest airport in Florida, after Miami International Airport...
in Orlando, Florida
Orlando, Florida
Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
.
As of November 2010, AirTran has grown to serve more than 70 cities coast-to-coast as well as in the Caribbean with more than 700 flights per day and over 8,500 crew members serving nearly 25 million passengers per year.
Buyout and wind-down
On September 27, 2010, Southwest AirlinesSouthwest Airlines
Southwest Airlines Co. is an American low-cost airline based in Dallas, Texas. Southwest is the largest airline in the United States, based upon domestic passengers carried,...
announced it would acquire Orlando
Orlando, Florida
Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
-based AirTran Airways for a total cost to Southwest of $1.4 billion. The acquisition would give Southwest a significant presence at many of AirTran’s hubs such as Atlanta
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport , known locally as Atlanta Airport, Hartsfield Airport, and Hartsfield–Jackson, is located seven miles south of the central business district of Atlanta, Georgia, United States...
(the largest U.S. city without Southwest service), Milwaukee, WI
General Mitchell International Airport
General Mitchell International Airport is a county-owned public airport located five miles south of the central business district of Milwaukee, a city in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, United States....
, and expanded service in Baltimore, MD and Orlando, FL
Orlando International Airport
Orlando International Airport is a major international airport located southeast of the central business district of Orlando. It is the second busiest airport in Florida, after Miami International Airport...
. With the merger, Southwest will now have international service to several leisure destinations such as Cancún, Montego Bay
Montego Bay
Montego Bay is the capital of St. James Parish and the second largest city in Jamaica by area and the fourth by population .It is a tourist destination with duty free shopping, cruise line terminal and the beaches...
and Aruba
Aruba
Aruba is a 33 km-long island of the Lesser Antilles in the southern Caribbean Sea, located 27 km north of the coast of Venezuela and 130 km east of Guajira Peninsula...
. Southwest will integrate AirTran's fleet of Boeing 717s and Boeing 737-700
Boeing 737 Next Generation
The Boeing 737 Next Generation, commonly abbreviated as Boeing 737NG, is the name given to the -600/-700/-800/-900 series of the Boeing 737 after the introduction of the -300/-400/-500 Classic series. They are short- to medium-range, narrow-body jet airliners...
series aircraft into Southwest Airlines brand and livery. The airlines plan to have the acquisition completed and finalized within the next two years; until then, operations for both carriers will remain as separate airlines. The deal closed on May 2, 2011 and a single operating certificate for the combined carrier is expected to be achieved March 2, 2012.
On October 10, 2011, USA Today
USA Today
USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
reported that Southwest has announced that it will "unwind" and dismantle the Atlanta airport Airtran hub. The changes will ultimately affect Atlanta's overall daily flight operations up to a 13% loss. Southwest has been quiet about the hub changes until date. Many Airtran smaller market airports/routes may see more limited or eliminated service.
The Southwest Airlines
Southwest Airlines
Southwest Airlines Co. is an American low-cost airline based in Dallas, Texas. Southwest is the largest airline in the United States, based upon domestic passengers carried,...
acquisition of AirTran Holdings Inc., former parent company of AirTran Airways closed on May 2, 2011 and a single operating certificate for the combined carrier is expected to be achieved March 2, 2012. Integration of employee groups between the two carriers has already begun, with total and complete integration of all employee groups expected to be completed by 2015.
Employee Relations
AirTran has adopted a similar approach to employee recruitment as Southwest Airlines with an emphasis on functional skills and relational competence.The airline has clear job specialisation with the expectation of flexibility between jobs as required by day-to-day operational circumstances. AirTran’s training approach involves drawing the link between individual job performance, the airline’s overall financial performance and the importance of achieving high levels of customer service and efficiency.
Destinations
AirTran Airways serves more than 70 destinations throughout the United States, Mexico and the Caribbean.Top served cities
| City | Number of gates | Number of Daily Departures |
|---|---|---|
| Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport , known locally as Atlanta Airport, Hartsfield Airport, and Hartsfield–Jackson, is located seven miles south of the central business district of Atlanta, Georgia, United States... |
31 | 200 |
| Orlando Orlando International Airport Orlando International Airport is a major international airport located southeast of the central business district of Orlando. It is the second busiest airport in Florida, after Miami International Airport... |
8 | 62 |
| Milwaukee General Mitchell International Airport General Mitchell International Airport is a county-owned public airport located five miles south of the central business district of Milwaukee, a city in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, United States.... |
8 | 57 |
| Baltimore-Washington Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport is an international airport serving the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area in the United States. It is commonly called BWI, BWI Airport or BWI Marshall, BWI being an initialism for "Baltimore/Washington International" and the... |
9 | 55 |
| Fort Myers Southwest Florida International Airport -Statistics:-Accidents and incidents:* November 28, 2007 - A single-engine fixed wing aircraft crashed about 9:20 a.m. one mile west of Runway 6. The crash killed the pilot... |
4 | 27 |
| Tampa Tampa International Airport Tampa International Airport is a major public airport located six nautical miles west of the central business district of Tampa, in Hillsborough County, Florida, United States. This airport is publicly owned by Hillsborough County Aviation Authority... |
3 | 23 |
| Indianapolis Indianapolis International Airport Indianapolis International Airport is a public airport located seven miles southwest of the central business district of Indianapolis, a city in Marion County, Indiana, United States. It is owned and operated by the Indianapolis Airport Authority... |
5 | 20 |
| Boston Logan International Airport General Edward Lawrence Logan International Airport is located in the East Boston neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts . It covers , has six runways, and employs an estimated 16,000 people. It is the 19th busiest airport in the United States.Boston serves as a focus city for JetBlue Airways... |
3 | 19 |
| New York, LGA | 2 | 19 |
| Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport Fort Lauderdale – Hollywood International Airport is an international commercial airport located in unincorporated Broward County, Florida, three miles southwest of the central business district of Fort Lauderdale... |
3 | 17 |
Current fleet
| Aircraft | Total | Orders | Passengers | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| J | Y | Total | ||||
| Boeing 717-200 Boeing 717 The Boeing 717 is a twin-engine, single-aisle jet airliner, developed for the 100-seat market. The airliner was designed and marketed by McDonnell Douglas as the MD-95, a third-generation derivative of the DC-9. Capable of seating of up to 117 passengers, the 717 has maximum range of... |
88 | 0 | 12 | 105 | 117 | Fleet includes first & last Boeing 717 ever built |
| Boeing 737-700 Boeing 737 Next Generation The Boeing 737 Next Generation, commonly abbreviated as Boeing 737NG, is the name given to the -600/-700/-800/-900 series of the Boeing 737 after the introduction of the -300/-400/-500 Classic series. They are short- to medium-range, narrow-body jet airliners... |
52 | 65 | 12 | 125 | 137 | Deliveries: Mid-2011 Fitted with blended winglets |
Prior to the Southwest acquisition, AirTran Airways had begun studies to replace the Boeing 717-200
Boeing 717
The Boeing 717 is a twin-engine, single-aisle jet airliner, developed for the 100-seat market. The airliner was designed and marketed by McDonnell Douglas as the MD-95, a third-generation derivative of the DC-9. Capable of seating of up to 117 passengers, the 717 has maximum range of...
aircraft. "AirTran would like to replace the 717-200 with a 100-120 seater aircraft. Likely replacements for the 717-200 airplane are either the Bombardier C-Series or Embraer E-Jets
Embraer E-Jets
The Embraer E-Jets are a series of narrow-body, twin-engine, medium-range, jet airliners produced by Embraer, a Brazilian aerospace conglomerate that produces commercial, military, and corporate aircraft. Announced at the Paris Air Show in 1999, and entering production in 2002, the aircraft series...
but the company is not forgetting that Boeing could come out with a comparable aircraft to replace the 717-200" said by John Kirby, AirTran senior director of strategic planning and scheduling.
AirTran Airways was also looking at switching some Boeing 737-700
Boeing 737 Next Generation
The Boeing 737 Next Generation, commonly abbreviated as Boeing 737NG, is the name given to the -600/-700/-800/-900 series of the Boeing 737 after the introduction of the -300/-400/-500 Classic series. They are short- to medium-range, narrow-body jet airliners...
orders to the Boeing 737-800
Boeing 737 Next Generation
The Boeing 737 Next Generation, commonly abbreviated as Boeing 737NG, is the name given to the -600/-700/-800/-900 series of the Boeing 737 after the introduction of the -300/-400/-500 Classic series. They are short- to medium-range, narrow-body jet airliners...
series aircraft. The 737-800 is said to have "roughly 164 seats." says John Kirby, AirTran senior director of strategic planning and scheduling.
With Southwest purchasing the airline, the fleet of Boeing 717s will be retained along with the 737s. It is expected that these aircraft will be used on routes too small for the 737 and there has been speculation that the type will eventually replace the small fleet of 737-500s in the Southwest fleet, but no utilization plans have been announced by Southwest as of yet.
Retired
- Airbus A320-200Airbus A320 familyThe Airbus A320 family is a family of short- to medium-range, narrow-body, commercial passenger jet airliners manufactured by Airbus Industrie.Airbus was originally a consortium of European aerospace companies, and is now fully owned by EADS. Airbus's name has been Airbus SAS since 2001...
operated by Ryan International AirlinesRyan International AirlinesRyan International Airlines, Inc. is an American FAR 121 airline with domestic, flag, and supplemental authority.Based in Rockford, Illinois, the US Postal Service was once the airline's main customer, flying Boeing 727 aircraft on scheduled cargo flights... - Boeing 737-200Boeing 737The Boeing 737 is a short- to medium-range, twin-engine narrow-body jet airliner. Originally developed as a shorter, lower-cost twin-engine airliner derived from Boeing's 707 and 727, the 737 has developed into a family of nine passenger models with a capacity of 85 to 215 passengers...
- McDonnell Douglas DC-9-32McDonnell Douglas DC-9The McDonnell Douglas DC-9 is a twin-engine, single-aisle jet airliner. It was first manufactured in 1965 with its maiden flight later that year. The DC-9 was designed for frequent, short flights. The final DC-9 was delivered in October 1982.The DC-9 was followed in subsequent modified forms by...
- CRJ-200 operated by Air WisconsinAir WisconsinAir Wisconsin Airlines Corporation is an airline based at Outagamie County Regional Airport in the town of Greenville, Wisconsin, United States, near Appleton. Air Wisconsin is the largest privately held regional airline in the United States...
Cabin
AirTran Airways operates under a two-class configuration featuring Business Class and Economy Class. All seats feature live, on-demand XM Satellite RadioXM Satellite Radio
XM Satellite Radio is one of two satellite radio services in the United States and Canada, operated by Sirius XM Radio. It provides pay-for-service radio, analogous to cable television. Its service includes 73 different music channels, 39 news, sports, talk and entertainment channels, 21 regional...
, as well as Gogo Inflight Internet
Gogo Inflight Internet
Gogo provides in-flight broadband Internet service, streaming video and other connectivity services for commercial and business aircraft. In June of 2011, the company formally changed its name from Aircell to Gogo as part of a rebranding effort...
. Business class
Business class
Business class is a travel class available on many commercial airlines and rail lines, known by brand names which vary by airline or rail company. In the airline industry, it was originally intended as an intermediate level of service between economy class and first class, but many airlines now...
includes rows 1–3 and coach begins with row 10; rows 4–9 are skipped for numbering purposes, and 13 is skipped due to superstition
Triskaidekaphobia
Triskaidekaphobia is fear of the number ; it is a superstition and related to a specific fear of Friday the 13th, called paraskevidekatriaphobia or friggatriskaidekaphobia.The term was first used by Isador Coriat in Abnormal...
. All Airtran Airways flights are served with a complimentary beverage service and small snack. All complimentary beverages offered are Coca-Cola products, and other beverages including juices, beer, and bottled water can be purchased in-flight.
Livery
AirTran's liveryLivery
A livery is a uniform, insignia or symbol adorning, in a non-military context, a person, an object or a vehicle that denotes a relationship between the wearer of the livery and an individual or corporate body. Often, elements of the heraldry relating to the individual or corporate body feature in...
is primarily white, with teal on the ventral side. The sections are divided by parallel red and blue stripes, which run horizontal at the front, and start to curve upward at the wings until they reach the top side of the plane at the back of the vertical stabilizer. The nacelle
Nacelle
The nacelle is a cover housing that holds engines, fuel, or equipment on an aircraft. In some cases—for instance in the typical "Farman" type "pusher" aircraft, or the World War II-era P-38 Lightning—an aircraft's cockpit may also be housed in a nacelle, which essentially fills the...
s are royal blue, with "airtran.com" written in white Helvetica font. The logo version of "AirTran" is written toward the front on either side in teal above the passenger windows, and the vertical stabilizer is teal with a prominent white cursive "A", just like the beginning of the logo.
Special livery aircraft
AirTran Airways has also created several special liveryLivery
A livery is a uniform, insignia or symbol adorning, in a non-military context, a person, an object or a vehicle that denotes a relationship between the wearer of the livery and an individual or corporate body. Often, elements of the heraldry relating to the individual or corporate body feature in...
aircraft. These include an aircraft featuring Elton John
Elton John
Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...
and Danica Patrick
Danica Patrick
Danica Sue Patrick is an American auto racing driver, model and advertising spokeswoman. She is the most successful woman in the history of American open-wheel racing, being the only woman to win in the IndyCar Series as well as holding the highest finish by a woman at the Indianapolis 500 of 3rd...
. AirTran also partnered with the Orlando/Orange County CVB to create a Boeing 717
Boeing 717
The Boeing 717 is a twin-engine, single-aisle jet airliner, developed for the 100-seat market. The airliner was designed and marketed by McDonnell Douglas as the MD-95, a third-generation derivative of the DC-9. Capable of seating of up to 117 passengers, the 717 has maximum range of...
aircraft emblazoned with a "Say YES to Orlando" logo on each side and a second Boeing 717
Boeing 717
The Boeing 717 is a twin-engine, single-aisle jet airliner, developed for the 100-seat market. The airliner was designed and marketed by McDonnell Douglas as the MD-95, a third-generation derivative of the DC-9. Capable of seating of up to 117 passengers, the 717 has maximum range of...
saying "Orlando Makes Me Smile," which celebrated AirTran Airways' partnership with the OOCVB to promote travel to the city. The airline also has an aircraft paying tribute to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando.
Several aircraft feature sports-related livery
Livery
A livery is a uniform, insignia or symbol adorning, in a non-military context, a person, an object or a vehicle that denotes a relationship between the wearer of the livery and an individual or corporate body. Often, elements of the heraldry relating to the individual or corporate body feature in...
. The teams represented are the Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens are a professional football franchise based in Baltimore, Maryland.The Baltimore Ravens are officially a quasi-expansion franchise, having originated in 1995 with the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy after Art Modell, then owner of the Cleveland Browns, announced his...
, Indianapolis Colts
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
, Orlando Magic
Orlando Magic
The Orlando Magic is a professional basketball team based in Orlando, Florida. They play in the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association and are currently coached by Stan Van Gundy...
, and Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
.
On February 12, 2010, AirTran Airways celebrated Little Debbie's 50th anniversary by launching a one-of-a-kind, custom-designed Boeing 717
Boeing 717
The Boeing 717 is a twin-engine, single-aisle jet airliner, developed for the 100-seat market. The airliner was designed and marketed by McDonnell Douglas as the MD-95, a third-generation derivative of the DC-9. Capable of seating of up to 117 passengers, the 717 has maximum range of...
, dubbed Little Debbie 1.
Incidents and accidents
- See also: Previous Incidents and Accidents as ValuJet
| Flight | Date | Aircraft | Location | Description | Injuries | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | |||||
| AirTran Airways 426 Summary |
May 7, 1998 | Douglas DC-9-32 | Calhoun, GA | Flight crew failed to maintain adequate separation from hazardous meteorological conditions. The investigation revealed that the captain had been involved in two other air carrier incidents involving adverse weather conditions. It also revealed that the airline lacked adequate training and guidance regarding hazardous weather interpretation and avoidance, as well as adequate procedures to notify flight attendants about potential turbulence. A flight attendant and a passenger were seriously injured during a turbulence encounter. | 2 | ||
| AirTran Airways 867 Summary |
November 1, 1998 | Boeing 737-200 Boeing 737 The Boeing 737 is a short- to medium-range, twin-engine narrow-body jet airliner. Originally developed as a shorter, lower-cost twin-engine airliner derived from Boeing's 707 and 727, the 737 has developed into a family of nine passenger models with a capacity of 85 to 215 passengers... |
Atlanta, GA | Lost control and skidded off of the runway while landing, with main landing gear in a drainage ditch and its empennage extending over the taxiway. The nose gear was folded back into the electrical/electronic compartment and turned 90 degrees from its normal, extended position. The cause was an improperly repaired hydraulic line leak. | 13 | ||
External links
- AirTran Airways website
- AirTran mobile website
- Go inflight magazine
- AirTran Airways fleet
- AirTran Airways fleet age
- AirTran Airways seating charts
- AirTran Airways' Yahoo! finance profile
- AirTran Airways proposal to Midwest Airlines Board of Directors
- With ValuJet in past, AirTran soars as others struggle, USA TodayUSA TodayUSA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...