AirTran Airways Gains Upper Hand With New Service to Grand Rapids

ORLANDO, Fla., May 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- AirTran Airways, a subsidiary of AirTran Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: AAI), today launched daily nonstop service from Gerald R. Ford International Airport in Grand Rapids, Mich., to both Orlando International Airport and Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport.

"AirTran Airways is excited to bring our signature high-quality, low cost service to Grand Rapids," said Kevin Healy, senior vice president of marketing and planning for AirTran Airways. "We have been working with the Western Michigan business community for a long time to bring this service to Grand Rapids and look forward to a long, successful partnership."

To celebrate the inaugural flight, the airline hosted an event at the airport featuring a donation to the local chapter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

"On behalf of the Regional Air alliance of West Michigan, it is an honor to welcome AirTran Airways to Grand Rapids. It took a true collaborative public/private partnership to make this possible and we are excited that today has arrived. There are few opportunities which come along that bring immediate benefit to our region's consumers, our quality of life and our area's economic development goals. This is clearly one of those opportunities," said Dick DeVos, chair of the Regional Air Alliance of West Michigan.

The following nonstop flights between Grand Rapids and Orlando will be available beginning May 4, 2010:

The following nonstop flights between Grand Rapids and Baltimore/Washington will be available beginning May 4, 2010:

*Flight 966 begins operation May 5, 2010.

In addition to the flights beginning May 4, AirTran Airways will also initiate service between Grand Rapids and both Ft. Myers, and Tampa, Fla., in June.

The following nonstop flights between Grand Rapids and Ft. Myers will be available beginning June 12, 2010:

The following nonstop flights between Grand Rapids and Tampa will be available beginning June 12, 2010:

Following is a sample of fares AirTran Airways will offer for its new flights to/from Orlando and Baltimore/Washington. Travel on introductory fares* must be booked by May 9, 2010, for travel through June 23, 2010. Fares listed are one way, available daily and are valid in either direction:

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 http://www.airtran.com.

* All fares are one-way. Introductory sale fares and lowest walk-up fares are non-refundable, and a $75 fee per person applies to any change made after purchase plus any applicable increase in airfare. Seats are limited subject to availability and may not be available on all flights. Introductory sale fares require a 14-day minimum advance purchase. Introductory sale fares must be purchased by May 9, 2010 and travel must be completed by June 23, 2010. A first bag may be checked for a fee of $15 each way and a second bag may be checked for a fee of $25 each way. Reservations may be obtained or changed through an AirTran Airways Telephone Reservations Center for an additional $15.00 per person. Fares, routes, and schedules are subject to change without notice. Fares do not include per-segment tax of $3.70. A segment is defined as one takeoff and one landing. The September 11th security fee of up to $10 is not included. Airport Passenger Facility Charges of up to $18 are not included.

SOURCE AirTran Airways