AirTran Airways CEO Addresses Airline Competition At Pittsburgh Aero Club.

Business Editors/Travel Writers

PITTSBURGH--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 15, 2001

-- Predicts minimal low-fare competition in the East Coast without

slot divestiture at LaGuardia and Washington National Airport --

AirTran Airways' (AMEX:AAI) Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Joseph Leonard addressed the Aero Club of Pittsburgh today regarding airline competition. Leonard stressed the need for low-fare competition throughout the Northeastern United States as well as the airline's intent to file petitions with the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), forcing a divestiture of major-airport slots regardless of the antitrust review of mergers proposed between major airlines currently under way at the U.S. Department of Justice.

Leonard warned of the serious effect the proposed airline mergers involving United Airlines, USAirways, American Airlines and DC Air will have on the city of Pittsburgh. "If these mergers pass antitrust muster as is, United alone will control 84 percent of the seats out of Pittsburgh, and American will have four percent of the remaining seat share. That kind of control by two mega-airlines will not make for price competition, and that is the price that Pittsburghers will pay for these mergers.

"Our entry into this marketplace is THE perfect example of the price discipline that AirTran Airways can bring into a hub-dominated market. In fact, the DOT in January released a study that makes it very clear just how important low-fare service is to hub markets that are dominated by large network carriers. We have a unique opportunity with these mergers to bring about the kind of price competition to points throughout the Northeast U.S., to many medium-sized cities that haven't seen true affordable-fare competition in many years."

AirTran Airways does not oppose mergers within the airline industry, especially when job security and economic stability issues are a concern. But according to Leonard, AirTran Airways' "growing status as a competitive force in the Northeast will be greatly blunted over the long term if we can't get landing and takeoff slots, gates and other facilities at the large-city airports, such as Reagan Washington National. These public assets are absolutely essential to building the second network that AirTran Airways must have in order to compete with airlines that will have fleets of more than 1,000 aircraft!"

Systemwide, AirTran Airways operates 314 daily departures to 34 cities. Offering the convenience of easy, same-concourse connections in Atlanta, AirTran Airways operates 139 daily departures from Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport, the world's busiest airport.

AirTran Airways provides everyday, affordable air travel throughout the eastern United States and, unlike other airlines, never requires a roundtrip purchase or Saturday night stay. AirTran Airways is the launch customer for the Boeing 717, today's newest, most innovative and most environmentally friendly commercial aircraft. AirTran Airways is a subsidiary of AirTran Holdings, Inc. (AMEX:AAI).

For more information and reservations, visit AirTran Airways' Web site at www.airtran.com (America Online Keyword: AirTran), call your travel agent or call AirTran Airways at 800-AIRTRAN (800-247-8726) or 770-994-8258 (in Atlanta).

Note to editors/producers: AirTran Airways Chairman and CEO Joseph Leonard will participate in a news conference at 5 p.m. today in Pittsburgh's Rivers Club, located at 301 Grant Street, Fourth Floor Oxford Centre. Leonard will be available to further discuss the upcoming DOT petition and how it might affect the future of low-fare air service in Pittsburgh. To arrange an individual interview, contact Director of Corporate Communications Jim Brown at 407-497-2789, or page him at 877-829-8476.