AirTran Airways Reports Strong Consumer Demand in Milwaukee
Wednesday May 2, 5:48 pm ET
ORLANDO, Fla., May 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- AirTran Airways, Inc., a subsidiary of AirTran Holdings, Inc., (NYSE: AAI - News), today reported the airline has experienced strong consumer demand on its Milwaukee routes over the past quarter
Today, Midwest Airlines, a subsidiary of Midwest Air Group, Inc. (Amex: MEH - News), released information regarding the preference of frequent fliers to avoid AirTran Airways. While AirTran Airways has neither received a copy of the report nor a listing of questions and precise methodology used to compile the information, the results reported are in strong contrast to AirTran Airways' first quarter performance.
During the first quarter, AirTran reported an all-time record number of passenger enplanements both on its system and out of Milwaukee.
In fact, the highest load factor market in its system during the first quarter was the Milwaukee-Fort Myers, Fla., market, which had a 93.7 percent load factor, an improvement of 11.4 points year-over-year. The Milwaukee to Orlando, Fla., market had a 90.1 percent load factor and increased 6.4 points year-over-year, and Milwaukee to Atlanta, Ga., had a 73.1 percent load factor and was up 8.7 points year-over-year. During the first quarter of 2007, AirTran launched new service between Milwaukee and Tampa, Fla., which had a load factor of 72.9 percent. As a comparison, AirTran's system load factor was 70.1 percent on a 20.5 percent increase in capacity.
"It is disappointing to us that Midwest management is manufacturing surveys of select frequent travelers instead of working with AirTran to create a world class low-cost airline that will provide value to shareholders, an increased number of flights and destinations to all of the traveling public as well as job security and advancement opportunities for employees," stated Joe Leonard, AirTran Airways' chairman and chief executive officer.
Midwest shareholders with questions about how to tender their shares may call AirTran's Information Agent, Innisfree M&A Incorporated, toll-free at 877-456-3422. (Banks and Brokers may call collect at 212-750-5833). AirTran Airways, a Fortune 1000 company and one of America's largest low- fare airlines with more than 8,500 friendly, professional Crew Members, operates more than 700 daily flights to 56 destinations. The airline's hub is at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, where it is the second largest carrier. AirTran Airways' aircraft features the fuel-efficient Boeing 737-700 and 717-200 to create America's youngest all-Boeing fleet. The airline is also the first carrier to install XM Satellite Radio on a commercial aircraft and the only airline with Business Class and XM Satellite Radio on every flight. For reservations or more information, visit http://www.airtran.com (America Online Keyword: AirTran).
Wednesday May 2, 5:48 pm ET
ORLANDO, Fla., May 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- AirTran Airways, Inc., a subsidiary of AirTran Holdings, Inc., (NYSE: AAI - News), today reported the airline has experienced strong consumer demand on its Milwaukee routes over the past quarter
Today, Midwest Airlines, a subsidiary of Midwest Air Group, Inc. (Amex: MEH - News), released information regarding the preference of frequent fliers to avoid AirTran Airways. While AirTran Airways has neither received a copy of the report nor a listing of questions and precise methodology used to compile the information, the results reported are in strong contrast to AirTran Airways' first quarter performance.
During the first quarter, AirTran reported an all-time record number of passenger enplanements both on its system and out of Milwaukee.
In fact, the highest load factor market in its system during the first quarter was the Milwaukee-Fort Myers, Fla., market, which had a 93.7 percent load factor, an improvement of 11.4 points year-over-year. The Milwaukee to Orlando, Fla., market had a 90.1 percent load factor and increased 6.4 points year-over-year, and Milwaukee to Atlanta, Ga., had a 73.1 percent load factor and was up 8.7 points year-over-year. During the first quarter of 2007, AirTran launched new service between Milwaukee and Tampa, Fla., which had a load factor of 72.9 percent. As a comparison, AirTran's system load factor was 70.1 percent on a 20.5 percent increase in capacity.
"It is disappointing to us that Midwest management is manufacturing surveys of select frequent travelers instead of working with AirTran to create a world class low-cost airline that will provide value to shareholders, an increased number of flights and destinations to all of the traveling public as well as job security and advancement opportunities for employees," stated Joe Leonard, AirTran Airways' chairman and chief executive officer.
Midwest shareholders with questions about how to tender their shares may call AirTran's Information Agent, Innisfree M&A Incorporated, toll-free at 877-456-3422. (Banks and Brokers may call collect at 212-750-5833). AirTran Airways, a Fortune 1000 company and one of America's largest low- fare airlines with more than 8,500 friendly, professional Crew Members, operates more than 700 daily flights to 56 destinations. The airline's hub is at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, where it is the second largest carrier. AirTran Airways' aircraft features the fuel-efficient Boeing 737-700 and 717-200 to create America's youngest all-Boeing fleet. The airline is also the first carrier to install XM Satellite Radio on a commercial aircraft and the only airline with Business Class and XM Satellite Radio on every flight. For reservations or more information, visit http://www.airtran.com (America Online Keyword: AirTran).
