AirTran Airways
AirTran Airways has become a major player in the low cost airline industry, after a rocky start. The company has an image problem to overcome, but slowly but surely, they have managed to expand their operations beyond their Southeastern base to offer nationwide service. AirTran plans to continue to expand their service to include international routes, as well.

The AirTran Company Story
AirTran Airways began flying in 1993 as Conquest Airways. The name was changed to AirTran in 1994. The company used Orlando, FL, as its base and hub airport and flew only select destinations in the Southeast. Northwest Airlines challenged AirTran’s entry into the airline industry in that marketplace, which curtailed the airline’s expansion. Eventually, AirTran gave Northwest Airlines a 20% stake in a new holding company they set up as a parent company to AirTran.

To expand their route, AirTran merged with beleaguered airline ValuJet in 1997. Though ValuJet was a larger airline, it had a major image problem in the wake of the crash of ValuJet Flight 592. The airline had received harsh criticism in the media for illegally transporting flammable material, which the NTSB blamed for the crash of the plane. To overcome this problem in an unusual move, the larger ValuJet Airline took on the name of the smaller AirTran Airlines. AirTran struggled with overcoming their link to ValuJet in the public’s eye, but eventually the airline was able to prosper.

In the wake of the 9/11 terror attacks, AirTran fared the ensuing did in air travel numbers better than most other airlines. They only had to reduce service for less than a month, and they were the first airline to reinforce their cockpit doors. To help bridge the gap, AirTran Airways pilots accepted a cut in their salaries across all pay ranges. The airline was able to make up the pay within 45 days.

AirTran Cheap Airline Tickets
If you want to get the lowest fares possible on AirTran, make use of Airtran Airway’s online reservation system. The website has all the information you’ll need, like AirTran Airway’s flight schedules, promotional prices, routes, and their customer service phone number. On the site, you can also vote for new destinations you want to see AirTran fly, so you can can see more places for less with AirTran.