AirTran 737-800s

[LXApilot]

On Friday morning at about 8am I was taxiing out at Hartsfield and saw an AirTran 737-800, but it was painted a little different - more whitish in color. Are these the fabled 100 737-800s ordered back in 2002? If so, how many have been delivered? Where are they flying these birds? Just curious. AirTran guys and gals feel free to respond.

 

[ATL2CDG]

Actually, you saw an B737-7XX ; AirTran has not yet taken delivery of any -8XX series airframes. The new livery you saw (predominately white with a rearrangement of the stripes, etc.) is the new corporate livery ; it will be on all new aircraft deliveries and the 717s will be repainted as they cycle through heavy maintenance. Currently, I believe AirTran has no more than 4 on property (that's a highly inflated guess) ; current plans call for the delivery of ~58 airframes (a mix of 737s and 717s) in 2005. AirTran is currently operating their 737s on a select few high-density Florida routes (just a few frequencies) and more noticeably on the ATL-DEN run and other « longhaul » segments. As more airframes come on property, they will begin to replace the routes currently operated by the wet-leased Ryan International A230s and Ryan Internation will leave AirTran ops. Also, they will cover other routes normally operated by the 717 as some 717s are transitioned to cover routes previously operated by Air Wisconsin as AirTran JetConnect.

 

[Fly-By-Cable]

here's a picture of a new paintjob on 717

http://www.airliners.net/open.file?id=623084&WxsIERv=Qm9laW5nIDcxNy0yQkQ%3D&WdsYXMg=QWlyVHJhbg%3D%3D&QtODMg=TG9uZyBCZWFjaCAtIERhdWdoZXJ0eSBGaWVsZCAoTEdCIC8gS0xHQik%3D&ERDLTkt=VVNBIC0gQ2FsaWZvcm5pYQ%3D%3D&ktODMp=SnVseSAxMywgMjAwNA%3D%3D&BP=0&WNEb25u=TWljaGFlbCBDYXJ0ZXI%3D&xsIERvdWdsY=Tjg5MkFU&MgTUQtODMgKE=VGhlIGZpcnN0IEFpclRyYW4gNzE3IHRvIHdlYXIgdGhlIGNhcnJpZXIncyBuZXcgbGl2ZXJ5IHNpdHMgaW4gdGhlIHN1bW1lciBzdW4gaW4gU291dGhlcm4gQ2FsaWZvcm5pYSBhd2FpdGluZyBpdHMgZmlyc3QgZmxpZ2h0Lg%3D%3D&YXMgTUQtODMgKERD=NDYyNw%3D%3D&NEb25uZWxs=MjAwNC0wNy0xOA%3D%3D&ODJ9dvCE=&O89Dcjdg=NTUwNDQvNTEzNA%3D%3D&static=yes

 

[DenverDude2002]

Its definitley a different paint scheme thats for sure, lots of colors.......

 

[atrdriver]

Actually AirTran is operating at least 1 737-800 that is painted in "Miami Air" colors. The call sign is Citrus. I don't know if they are leasing it, bought it, or otherwise, but there it is...

atrdriver

 

[DGdaPilot]

Actually AirTran is operating at least 1 737-800 that is painted in "Miami Air" colors. The call sign is Citrus. I don't know if they are leasing it, bought it, or otherwise, but there it is...

atrdriver

Don't all AirTran aircraft go by the "Citrus" callsign? Maybe I'm mistaken.

 

[atrdriver]

Don't all AirTran aircraft go by the "Citrus" callsign? Maybe I'm mistaken.

Yeah, that was my point. That's how we knew it was AirTran, despite the Miami Air paint, because it's callsign was "cirtus."

atrdriver

 

[flx757]

I actually believe that is Miami Air's aircraft on a wet-lease. They have used Miami Air several times in the past for supplemental lift, and are doing it again this summer, I'm pretty sure.

Maybe one of the AirTran or Miami Air pilots will know for sure, but I am fairly certain that is the case. What I AM certain of is that AirTran has NO 737-800s of their own at this time.

 

[DCitrus9]

That is a Miami Air aircraft and crew, so why do they use "Citrus" while Ryan and AirWis do not? I am sure there is a reason in the regs somewhere, but I am more lazy than I am curious.

 

[inline]

here's a picture of a new paintjob on 717

http://www.airliners.net/open.file?id=623084&WxsIERv=Qm9laW5nIDcxNy0yQkQ%3D&WdsYXMg=QWlyVHJhbg%3D%3D&QtODMg=TG9uZyBCZWFjaCAtIERhdWdoZXJ0eSBGaWVsZCAoTEdCIC8gS0xHQik%3D&ERDLTkt=VVNBIC0gQ2FsaWZvcm5pYQ%3D%3D&ktODMp=SnVseSAxMywgMjAwNA%3D%3D&BP=0&WNEb25u=TWljaGFlbCBDYXJ0ZXI%3D&xsIERvdWdsY=Tjg5MkFU&MgTUQtODMgKE=VGhlIGZpcnN0IEFpclRyYW4gNzE3IHRvIHdlYXIgdGhlIGNhcnJpZXIncyBuZXcgbGl2ZXJ5IHNpdHMgaW4gdGhlIHN1bW1lciBzdW4gaW4gU291dGhlcm4gQ2FsaWZvcm5pYSBhd2FpdGluZyBpdHMgZmlyc3QgZmxpZ2h0Lg%3D%3D&YXMgTUQtODMgKERD=NDYyNw%3D%3D&NEb25uZWxs=MjAwNC0wNy0xOA%3D%3D&ODJ9dvCE=&O89Dcjdg=NTUwNDQvNTEzNA%3D%3D&static=yes

Did Boeing remove the eyebrow window on the 717 when they bought out McDonnell Douglas? Anyone?

 

[flx757]

Did Boeing remove the eyebrow window on the 717 when they bought out McDonnell Douglas? Anyone?

It wasn't immediately after, but at some point they did. Supposedly as a cost savings matter. But all aircraft after a certain SN do not have the eyebrow windows.

 

[TurboS7]

Airtran has our 737-800 N732MA on wet lease until the middle of Sep. doing the ATL-FLL-ATL It is set up 8/156 for a total of 164 passengers. We use Citrus as our call sign as we do all our wet lease arrangements. It makes it easier to figure out the landing fees and all the other stuff that goes along with operationing the aircraft. The aircraft is leased on an ACMI arrangement meaning Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance and Insurance, Airtran has to pay for the rest of the expense, whatever it or they may be. We even have to bring our own water as Airtran doesn't provide water for the flight deck. WE do it but we would much rather be doing our regular flying which takes us all around the world.

 

[DCitrus9]

TurboS7, thanks for the explanation. It almost seems too simple to just assume the call sign.

They're a bit stingy, eh? I am not surprised- Joe's favorite word is "no". I don't mean that in a derogatory fashion, simply that he doesn't spend a dime that is not required.

 

[Fly-By-Cable]

update on new painjob

This came from chief pilot last week. All 717s will be repainted in new colors for FREE. The original paint had poor quality and Boeing agreed to repaint them as part of warranty. So AirTran took the opportunity to change it's livery.