AirTran Airways Files Application to Fly to Aruba

[Arubalisa]

AirTran Airways Files Application to Fly to Nassau, Montego Bay and Aruba
http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/08-25-2009/0005082918&EDATE=
"- Airline Plans to Expand Operations in the Caribbean by Year's End -

ORLANDO, Fla., Aug. 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- AirTran Airways, a subsidiary of AirTran Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: AAI), today filed applications with the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to begin offering service to Nassau, Bahamas; Montego Bay, Jamaica; and the island of Aruba.

If approved, service to the three popular tourist destinations would begin later this year and early in 2010 from a combination of key cities.

"Adding our low-cost, high-quality service from some of our largest operations to some of the most popular destinations in the Caribbean is a win-win for consumers and for AirTran Airways," said Kevin Healy, senior vice president, marketing and planning. "There's nothing quite like jetting off to a tropical island in the middle of Winter, and we look forward to making that possible from some of the largest cities in our network."

In the application, the airline proposes service to Nassau and Montego Bay from Atlanta, Baltimore and Orlando; while service to Aruba would originate in Atlanta and Orlando. More information on flights, equipment and fares will be made available upon receipt of DOT approval.

AirTran Airways, a subsidiary of AirTran Holdings, Inc.(NYSE: AAI), and a Fortune 1000 company, has been ranked the number one low cost carrier in the Airline Quality Rating study for the past two years. AirTran is the only major airline with Wi-Fi on every flight and offers coast-to-coast service on North America's newest all-Boeing fleet. Its low-cost, high-quality product also includes assigned seating, Business Class and complimentary XM Satellite Radio on every flight. To book a flight, visit www.airtran.com."

This is welcome relief to Atlantans forever locked into Delta's high fares. For the nine years we have lived here, you could fly from the NY metro area, or many other parts of the country for that matter, to Aruba much cheaper than from Atlanta solely because there is more competition in NY for non-stop flights. Delta was the only airline flying non-stop from Atlanta to Aruba. Hopefully no more.

[Chadd]

I like the Orlando flight announcement, though it probably won't work well for the daily connection to/from home.

[Arubalisa]

My parents like it too because it gives them another option besides Spirit and American or of course, Delta through ATL. WHICH from south Florida always sounds silly, but if it is less $$$$

[fattypatty]

im so glad i have jetblue at jfk.

[Arubalisa]

AirTran Airways Files for New Service to Aruba
August 27th, 2009
http://www.aruba.com/news/airlines/airtran-airways-files-for-new-service-to-aruba/
"Aruba Airport Authority N.V. Obtains Aruba’s 13th Gateway in the United States

Aruba Airport Authority N.V. (AAA) has received official word from AirTran Airways that the necessary paperwork with the US Department of Transportation (DOT) for non-stop direct service on a weekly basis from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and Orlando International Airport to Aruba has been filed. AirTran will be utilizing B737-700 aircraft on both routes configured with 137 seats and expects to start service in December 2009 from Atlanta and February 2010 from Orlando.

AirTran Airways’ mix of low fares and an affordable Business Class with excellent customer service and one of the world’s youngest all-Boeing fleets has continued to strike a chord with the public. In addition, AirTran is currently one of the most profitable airlines in the United States. “AirTran Airways is thrilled to bring our unique high quality, and high value service to the beautiful island of Aruba” said John Kirby, Senior director of strategic planning for AirTran Airways. “Our new service to Orlando, FL will provide Arubans their first non-stop service to one of the most popular destinations in the world, while our new non-stop Atlanta service provides connecting service to more than thirty destinations in the United States”. Atlanta is currently serviced daily and twice daily during periods of high demand by Delta Airlines.

Additional service from AirTran will create new opportunities within the domestic US market. Direct service to Orlando will not only offer opportunities for new markets to Aruba but will also offer an alternative for the Aruban population to one the most popular US cities. With the expected new service from AirTran our air service partners from the United States will increase to eight of which American Airlines, US Airways, Continental Airlines, Delta Airlines and United Airlines are legacy carriers and Jetblue, Spirit and AirTran are our Low Cost Carriers. In addition, our US gateways will be increased to thirteen, Atlanta, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago O’Hare, Newark, Fort Lauderdale, Washington Dulles, Houston, New York JFK, New York La Guardia, Miami, Orlando and Philadelphia.

Unprecedented high fuel prices during the summer of 2008, the financial crisis which resulted in the worst economic recession and the sharp decreases in demand for travel, make the announcement of new service during these times fantastic. AAA’s policy of air service maintenance and diversification of the route network are its core principles and continue to have successful results.This is illustrated by a positive passenger growth figure for July 2009 of 4.5% and further complimented by this additional and new service announcement. Meetings during events such as Network and AAA’s hosting of Network Latin America 2008 here in Aruba have definitely contributed to AirTran’s decision to file for service to Aruba.

‘Welcome AirTran, welcome home!’ said Peter Steinmetz, Managing Director AAA N.V. “Addition of service during these very difficult times is simply fantastic and our team is committed to ensure the success of both additional service from Atlanta and new service from Orlando. However, we believe that the local market will definitely contribute to the success of the Orlando service. We look forward to the inaugural flight in December.”

[xobxdoc]

now if they only flew out of BWI-AUA, that would be nice

[BALTIMORE BILLY]

Direct flight would be awesome from bwi

[Andrea J.]

well, if you cannot have direct................at least a 1 stop and connection in orlando is certainly a better connection than a 1 stop in miami.

those in Boston area, New York or New Jersey are quite spoiled by better choices than most everyone else in the usa and canada.
andrea

[~Amy~®]

We don't have any direct flights from Minneapolis to Aruba but we have alot of options with one connection that gets us to Aruba between 2pm-3pm the same day. We can use United (through Chicago), USAir (through Charlotte), or Delta (through Atlanta.) Now with AirTran, we will have a 4th option. You need to have good, healthy competition to keep the fares down. I know we pay less to fly from Minneapolis to Aruba than people in the Atlanta area because they have only had one airline to use for Aruba with no other options.

[Arubalisa]

Originally Posted by ~Amy~®

You need to have good, healthy competition to keep the fares down.

I know we pay less to fly from Minneapolis to Aruba than people in the Atlanta area because they have only had one airline to use for Aruba with no other options.

I understand the "competition" aspect as well as supply and demand. However it just blows my mind that it was $150+ cheaper pp at Christmas to fly from Atlanta up to Washington, D.C. and then on to Aruba than it was directly from Atlanta. We gave in to Delta, but hopefully no more!


Dh sent Air Tran an email this a.m. to thank them!