AirTran Airways Continues Growth in Caribbean With New Flights to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

ORLANDO, Fla., July 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- AirTran Airways, a subsidiary of AirTran Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: AAI), today announced plans to expand its Caribbean service to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.

Punta Cana will mark the fifth Caribbean destination the low-cost leader offers service to joining: Aruba, Cancun, Mexico, Montego Bay, Jamaica and Nassau/Paradise Island, Bahamas.

Roundtrip, nonstop flights between Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and Punta Cana International Airport will be conducted twice weekly beginning February 16, 2011.

"Punta Cana is a very popular vacation destination and we are happy to offer our passengers the chance to explore such a beautiful area beginning this winter," said Kevin Healy, AirTran Airways' senior vice president of marketing and planning.  "Our new flights to Punta Cana represent the next phase of our successful growth strategy in the Caribbean."

Connections to Punta Cana will be available from more than 40 cities throughout the AirTran Airways network via Atlanta, including: New York, Washington, Boston, Baltimore, Milwaukee, Orlando and many others.

"We are excited AirTran Airways will begin flying to Punta Cana from the world's busiest airport," said Frank Rainieri, President and CEO, Grupo Puntacana. "The launch of AirTran's flights joins a growing list of international carriers who are now offering direct flights to Punta Cana International Airport. AirTran's unique offering will go far in meeting the high demand for enjoyable travel to our region."

The following nonstop flights between Atlanta and Punta Cana will be available beginning February 16, 2011:

While scheduled service comes to the island just in time to fight off the winter doldrums, AirTran Airways has been flying to Punta Cana since 2008 as part of chartered service.

"Taking our charter experience and applying it to this new, scheduled service is a great advantage," said Healy. "Our customers will benefit from this familiarity on day one and for years to come."

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 three years.  AirTran Airways is the only major airline with Gogo Inflight Internet on every flight and offers coast-to-coast service on North America's newest all-Boeing fleet. Our 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

SOURCE AirTran Airways