AirTran/Air Wisconsin DONE!

[Thrust Master]

While the press release is not yet out.
The new hire class at Air Willy was just informed
that AirTran and Air Wisconsin will part ways.

Air Wisconsin will keep there Domicile in ATL for
UAL flights for now. They will shift crew and equipment
through Dulles taking over ACA departures as directed
by the Master Race(UAL).

Planes will be painted in the new livery very shortly.

That is all I know, which ain't much....

Thrust Master

 

[General Lee]

Who will now feed Airtran? Anybody? I know Fins wants ASA to, but does anybody know? And what type of planes?

Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[mad691]

Press Release Source: AirTran Airways


AirTran Airways Returns to All Full-Size Boeing Jets with Business Class
Friday March 5, 4:44 pm ET


ORLANDO, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 5, 2004--AirTran Airways, a subsidiary of AirTran Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:AAI - News), today announced that the airline has reached an agreement with Air Wisconsin Airline Corporation (NASDAQ:AWAC - News) to end the regional jet service known as AirTran Airways JetConnect. The move to end JetConnect service comes after the airline performed an economic analysis and determined it could operate the Boeing 717 more efficiently than the Canadair regional jets in short-haul markets. Air Wisconsin Airline Corp. currently operates ten Canadair regional jets under the AirTran JetConnect brand and flies to 14 cities - five of them exclusively.
AirTran JetConnect service will begin phasing out of AirTran Airways' system in July 2004, with all JetConnect service ending by August 2004. Passenger demand in the JetConnect cities will be met with the airline's popular Boeing 717 jets - all of which have Business Class and extra large overhead storage bins. The airline operates the youngest all-Boeing fleet in the nation. In addition, the airline has 100 Boeing 737-700 aircraft on order with deliveries scheduled to begin this summer.

"AirTran Airways viewed AirTran JetConnect as a trial which included a pre-planned review period at the end of 2003. We launched the regional jet product after September 11th when short-haul traffic initially evaporated. Since that time, the combination of improved short-haul revenue and eleven consecutive quarterly reductions in our unit costs now permit us to better serve these routes with full-size jets. Every jet in our fleet will have a Business Class cabin and extra large overhead storage bins, and passengers will continue to enjoy the same low fares they have come to expect with AirTran Airways," said Joe Leonard, chairman and chief executive officer. "Air Wisconsin lived up to their operational and financial promises, and we appreciate the partnership with Air Wisconsin and wish them well in their new endeavors."

"Air Wisconsin has enjoyed the relationship with AirTran Airways. There are growth opportunities for Air Wisconsin with another airline partner, and we are looking forward to re-deploying these regional jets," said Pat Thompson, executive vice president of Air Wisconsin Airline Corp.

AirTran Airways is one of America's largest low-fare airlines - employing more than 5,600 professional Crew Members and operating 508 flights a day to 45 destinations. The airline's hub is at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the world's busiest airport by passenger volume, where it is the second largest carrier operating 188 flights per day. AirTran Airways, a subsidiary of AirTran Holdings (NYSE:AAI - News), is the world's largest operator of the Boeing 717 and has the youngest all-Boeing fleet of any airline. In 2004, the airline will begin taking delivery of new Boeing 737-700s. For reservations or more information, visit airtran.com (America Online Keyword: AirTran).

Editor's note: Statements regarding the Company's operational and financial success, business model, expectation about future success, improved operational performance and our ability to maintain or improve our low costs are forward-looking statements and are not historical facts. Instead, they are estimates or projections involving numerous risks or uncertainties, including but not limited to, consumer demand and acceptance of services offered by the Company, the Company's ability to maintain current cost levels, fare levels and actions by competitors, regulatory matters and general economic conditions. Additional information concerning factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements is contained from time to time in the Company's SEC filings, including but not limited to the Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002. The Company disclaims any obligation or duty to update or correct any of its forward-looking statements.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Contact:
AirTran Airways, Orlando
Tad Hutcheson, 407-251-5578
[email protected]
or
Judy Graham-Weaver, 770-907-5054
[email protected]
or
Air Wisconsin Airline Corp.
Kelly Lanpheer, 920-749-7638
[email protected]



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source: AirTran Airways

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[avrodriver]

From the memo we recieved it sounds like AirTran is out of the RJ business altogether.......high op cost RJ's just don't fit into AT's low cost business model. Looks like I'll have to start looking for a ride from the General come summer for J/S ing since we won't have on line access unless we go through United's hubs. How will I know it's you??? AD

8 planes will be gone in june
2 in July
all going to United, but no clue as to what bases they will be relocated to.

 

[FL240]

?

So what happens to the new hires? Do they still have a job? I have a friend that just went there for that class.

 

[avrodriver]

We are not losing planes so we are not going to lose pilots.....hiring will continue AD

 

[FL240]

Good to hear...thanks

 

[NoName]

enter shuttle america.

 

[Thrust Master]

I wish I knew the answer, only AirTran management
knows this answer.

What disturbs me the most is this, our leaders(AWAC),
have said they wanted to distance the company from
UAL. Now there going to take the 10 aircraft from
ATL from AirTran and put them in service for United.

This is the exact opposite in which they informed the
pilot group at recent meetings in ORD and DEN.

Just like ALPA and the Company did during our new
TA agreement in which we took pay cut's.

Only to find out, AWAC made alot of coin.
According to AIN.

While AWAC took over the baggage and CSR jobs in
ORD. AWAC needs to figure out what they want to do.
Fly planes or handle bags for a profit.
Perhaps attempt wheel chair service for the disabled.

Thrust Master

 

[General Lee]

Avrodriver,

I will be one of the only Delta pilots that will address you nicely and ask you about what is happening at your company. I will take interest in EVERYTHING that you are saying, and I will make sure you get a first class seat if one is available. I make sure that I never use the jumpseat as a weapon, because I have needed it in the past. I fly mostly FLA from ATL and Song stuff--with occasional allnighters from the West Coast. I am the guy who doesn't need caffeine to stay awake, because I am already bouncing off the walls---look at my posts. Welcome onboard and I hope you get treated nicely every time you jump. Take care.

Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[avrodriver]

Till then GL..........and I appreciate the welcome. I've always been treated like gold by Delta pilots and f/a's (wish I could say the same about your desk agents). As much as you get your balls busted out here, you are an extremely entertaining person to watch on this board and I honestly don't think there is single pilot at a major or regional that keeps tabs on things like you do. Ok......enough jacking the thread.........but back to the point thank you for helping our pilots out to and from work, it's gonna gonna get ugly here in a few months.....by the way and I know it's a mgmt thing, but why do your connection carriers take unlimited j/s and you guys only take one.....even NW is now taking more than one.....and that's one of the most tightas.sed companies around!!! AD