AirTran Airways Awarded Two Additional Slots for Service Between Atlanta and Washington D.C. by Department of Transportation.Business Editors/Travel Writers ORLANDO, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 1, 2004 AirTran Airways AirTran Airways is a low-cost airline that is a Delaware corporation with headquarters in Orlando, Florida, USA and is a subsidiary of AirTran Holdings. AirTran operates over 750 daily flights throughout the eastern USA and the Midwest, including over 270 daily departures from , a subsidiary of AirTran Holdings AirTran Holdings (NYSE: AAI) is a Nevada corporation that operates as an airline holding company. Its primary asset is AirTran Airways. History After the large amount of negative publicity surrounding the Flight 592 incident, ValuJet Airlines suffered serious , Inc. (NYSE NYSE See: New York Stock Exchange :AAI AAI American Association of Immunologists. ), today announced the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) awarded the airline two slots at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (IATA: DCA, ICAO: KDCA, FAA LID: DCA) is a public airport located three miles (5 km) south of the central business district of Washington, D.C., in Arlington County, Virginia, United States. for one additional roundtrip flight between Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (IATA: ATL, ICAO: KATL, FAA LID: ATL), known locally as Atlanta Airport, Hartsfield Airport, Hartsfield-Jackson and Washington D.C. AirTran Airways, one of America's largest low-fare airlines, filed an application with the U.S. Department of Transportation in January of this year for two new slots. AirTran Airways will now operate a total of six daily flights from Reagan National Airport, using 117-seat Boeing 717 aircraft, among the quietest aircraft in the world, which include a Business Class section and are among the most environmentally sound aircraft flying today. "By awarding AirTran Airways the two new slots, the Department of Transportation has ultimately made available additional low fares and enhanced service Enhanced service is service offered over commercial carrier transmission facilities used in interstate communications, that employs computer processing applications that act on the format, content, code, protocol, or similar aspects of the subscriber's transmitted information; for communities coast to coast," said Joe Leonard, AirTran Airways' chairman and chief executive officer. "AirTran Airways strengthens our Washington, D.C., schedule for local Atlanta travelers as well as help smaller markets benefit from quicker connections to the nation's capital, while stimulating travel and tourism in and out of this busy market." In AirTran Airways' January proposal, the airline requested four slot exemptions to allow the airline to add the additional flights between Reagan National Airport and Atlanta. Pursuant to the Century of Aviation Reauthorization Act (P.L. 108-176), four of the newly available within-perimeter slot exemptions would be for air transportation to airports of any size. Considering the limited opportunity for the DOT to promote low fares and competition in a large hub like Atlanta, the department wisely allocated these limited slots in a manner that maximizes competitive opportunities. The proposed schedule will increase AirTran Airways' roundtrips between Reagan National Airport and Atlanta to four flights daily. The new flight schedule will be announced as soon as slot times are assigned by the Federal Aviation Administration Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), component of the U.S. Department of Transportation that sets standards for the air-worthiness of all civilian aircraft, inspects and licenses them, and regulates civilian and military air traffic through its air traffic control (FAA) with initiation of this service expected to be this summer. AirTran Airways is one of America's largest low-fare airlines - employing more than 5,600 professional Crew Members and operating 531 flights a day to 45 destinations. The airline's hub is at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the world's busiest airport World's busiest airport is a claim that is fiercely fought over by the owners of the world's largest airports. The definition of "busiest" is debated as well, with claims being staked on the basis of aircraft operations, cargo traffic or total passengers. by passenger volume, where it is the second largest carrier operating 197 flights per day. AirTran Airways, a subsidiary of AirTran Holdings (NYSE: AAI), is the world's largest operator of the Boeing 717 and has America's youngest all-Boeing fleet. In 2004, the airline will begin taking delivery of new Boeing 737-700s. For reservations or more information, visit http://www.airtran.com (America Online Keyword: AirTran). |
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