AirTran announces Detroit

[FL717]

I have to admit.... I never saw this coming. I thought St. Louis was going to be our next city. Shows how little I know about Market planning.


AirTran Airways Rolls into the Motor City with New Service to Detroit
Thursday August 4, 5:30 am ET

Daily Nonstop Service to/from Atlanta and Orlando Beginning November 8, 2005


ORLANDO, Fla., Aug. 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- AirTran Airways, a subsidiary of AirTran Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: AAI - News), today announced the airline will commence new daily nonstop service from Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and Orlando International Airport beginning November 8, 2005. Service to Sarasota Bradenton International Airport will also be added from Detroit starting February 15, 2006. These new routes will be served by the airline's popular Boeing 717 aircraft with 12 Business Class and 105 coach seats.

"We are thrilled to bring high-quality, low-fare service to travelers in the Detroit area starting this November," said Kevin Healy, AirTran Airways' vice president of planning and scheduling. "Detroit Metro will be our 48th city and a very strong addition to our route network. Detroit is the largest market in the country we do not serve directly. We've worked closely with the Wayne County Airport Authority and business leaders in the area to bring AirTran Airways and America's youngest all-Boeing fleet to the Motor City."

"We are very excited to have AirTran Airways entering Detroit Metropolitan Airport with service to multiple destinations," said Lester Robinson, CEO Wayne County Airport Authority. "The addition of low-fare service in Detroit has been a priority of our Board and provides our customers with more choices when they travel."

AirTran Airways will offer the following new daily nonstop flight options to/from Detroit starting November 8, 2005:

Nonstop Service from Detroit To Departs Arrives Frequency Atlanta 6:40 a.m. 8:40 a.m. Daily Atlanta 11:55 p.m. 1:55 p.m. Daily Atlanta 2:10 p.m. 4:10 p.m. Daily** Atlanta 5:50 p.m. 7:50 p.m. Daily Orlando 2:10 p.m. 4:50 p.m. Daily Sarasota 3:35 p.m. 6:25 p.m. Daily* *Service to Sarasota begins February 15, 2006 **Additional Atlanta flight begins December 6, 2005 Nonstop Service to Detroit From Departs Arrives Frequency Atlanta 9:20 a.m. 11:20 a.m. Daily Atlanta 11:30 a.m. 1:30 p.m. Daily Atlanta 3:15 p.m. 5:15 p.m. Daily** Atlanta 9:00 p.m. 11:00 p.m. Daily Orlando 2:35 p.m. 5:15 p.m. Daily Sarasota 12:10 p.m. 3:00 p.m. Daily* *Service to Sarasota begins February 15, 2006 **Additional Atlanta flight begins December 6, 2005 Listed below are sample one-way fares (valid in either direction) to/fromDetroit: Destination Lowest Coach Class Lowest Walk-up Business Class Atlanta $79 $219 $254 Orlando $84 $130 $299AirTran Airways, one of America's largest low-fare airlines with 6,400 friendly, professional Crew Members, operates over 500 daily flights to 48 destinations. The airline's hub is at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, where it is the second largest carrier. AirTran Airways recently added the fuel-efficient Boeing 737-700 aircraft to create America's youngest all-Boeing fleet. The airline is also the first carrier to install XM Satellite Radio on a commercial aircraft. For reservations or more information, visit http://www.airtran.com (America Online Keyword: AirTran).

 

[717pilot]

Remember the movie Vacation?

Clark: Hey Holmes how do you get to Detroit?

Holmes: F--K your mama!!!

And FL717 your right your not to smart!!

 

[mnboyev]

Detroit... What the ..... over.

You would think we would have 'better low hanging fruit'. How bout MSP to SEA.... Ouch. Although, hard to beat Sun Country.

Yeah.. St Louis... or maybe SAT... or maybe another farm town. How bout Billings (seasonal) or Missoula.

How bout them Islands down south where big D is headed I understand they spent lots of dough looking at those destinations.. Good vacation destinations... ? Trouble is.. Country folks never heard of dem destinations... LOL....

All in good fun and jest. Yeah 717 cant wait to fly into Detroit... Longest taxi on the planet...... Next to MSP

 

[General Lee]

De-toilet is a great town. Long layovers on the "8 mile road" gave me a chance to try impromptu rapping on the mic. You got one chance. Are you gonna blow it?



Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[SWA/FO]

Sweeeeeeeeeet!!!! Finally, low fares in DTW. Wonder what this will do to Spirit? I see full planes going to Florida!

 

[Smacktard]

Remember the movie Vacation?

Clark: Hey Holmes how do you get to Detroit?

Holmes: F--K your mama!!!

And FL717 your right your not to smart!!

Man, you're way off!

It was "excuse me, can you give me directions to the nearest freeway?"

"Hey fuc.k yo mamma!"

 

[pilotyip]

Stealing from Themselves?

Will they be stealing AirTran passengers from Detroit who drive to Flint? Will people presently riding out of FNT now fly out of DTW.

 

[fletch717]

I think we will get people from the south and southwest of DTW. I also believe this is in direct response to Northwest announcing FNT-LAS and Northwest's looming labor problems.

 

[SWA tech]

SWA need's more flights out of dtw, give nwa a run for the money.

 

[mnboyev]

I only heard stories about the Wheat and Rye...? all rumors only.

And some crazy redneck joint nicknamed the 'wedge'... Snicker Snicker..

I think we should have went to City... End run around SWA.. LOL

 

[717pilot]

D--n It Jim!!!

 

[Airtran Fanatic]

Yeah, if they had announced STL, I would have thought I died and gone to airline heaven.

Maybe next year!

 

[320AV8R]

I think we will get people from the south and southwest of DTW. I also believe this is in direct response to Northwest announcing FNT-LAS and Northwest's looming labor problems.

Labor problems...........what Labor problems ?

Northwest Announces New Daily Nonstop Service Between Flint and Ft. Myers
Thursday August 4, 1:56 pm ET

New Nonstop Flight to Start Oct. 30


MINNEAPOLIS, Aug. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Northwest Airlines (Nasdaq: NWAC - News) today announced new daily service between Flint, Mich. and Ft. Myers, Fla., beginning Oct. 30.

When the new flights are added in October, Northwest will offer up to 13 flights to up to six destinations from Flint, more than any other carrier serving Flint/Bishop International Airport. On July 14, Northwest announced that it will be adding new service between Flint and Las Vegas on Aug. 20.

"Northwest is pleased to offer this new daily nonstop service from our third largest market in Michigan to one of Florida's most popular destinations," said Tom Bach, vice president of network planning & revenue management. "We are delighted to add these flights to our schedule just in time for the peak winter travel season."

The new service will be operated with the 100-seat DC-9-30, featuring 16 seats in first class and 84 seats in coach class.

Currently, Northwest offers more daily departures (up to 11) and carries more passengers from Flint than any other airline. The new service to Ft. Myers will complement the seven daily flights Northwest currently offers between Flint and its WorldGateway at Detroit hub, and the two daily flights between Flint and the carrier's Minneapolis/St. Paul hub. Northwest also provides seasonal daily service from Flint to both Orlando, Fla., and Tampa, Fla., from Dec. 15 to April 30, and weekly Saturday service to those cities the rest of the year.

Customers holding tickets for travel Oct. 30 and beyond on connecting itineraries from Flint to Ft. Myers will be able to change their itineraries to one day earlier or one day later than they are currently booked and switch to Northwest's new nonstop service without paying an administrative change fee, provided they meet fare requirements and make all changes by Sept. 3.

The new flights to Ft. Myers are open for sale through http://www.nwa.com , Northwest Airlines Reservations at 1-800-225-2525 or through some travel agencies. Northwest's new Flint-Ft. Myers nonstop service will be widely available for sale through travel agents on Aug. 13.

New Flint - Ft. Myers Service Flight number: Departs: Arrives: NW 1818 3:00 p.m. 5:50 p.m. New Ft. Myers - Flint Service Flight number: Departs: Arrives: NW 1819 11:20 a.m. 2:10 p.m. Northwest Has Been Serving Michigan Since 1945

Northwest Airlines is the number one carrier in Michigan, serving a total of 13 cities, including the WorldGateway at Detroit plus Alpena, Flint, Grand Rapids, Hancock, Kalamazoo, Lansing, Marquette, Muskegon, Pellston, Saginaw/Bay City, Sault Ste. Marie and Traverse City, along with its Northwest Airlink partners. Northwest is the number one airline in all of these cities and the only airline to offer larger "mainline" jet aircraft in four of them.

Northwest and its Northwest Airlink partners serve 13 Florida cities, including Ft. Lauderdale, Ft. Myers, Ft. Walton Beach, Gainesville, Jacksonville, Miami, Orlando, Panama City, Pensacola, Sarasota, Tallahassee, Tampa, and West Palm Beach.

Northwest Airlines is the world's fourth largest airline with hubs at Detroit, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Memphis, Tokyo and Amsterdam, and approximately 1,600 daily departures. Northwest is a member of SkyTeam, an airline alliance that offers customers one of the world's most extensive global networks. Northwest and its travel partners serve more than 900 cities in excess of 160 countries on six continents.

 

[fletch717]

No labor problems? other than the flight attendants and the mechanics right. Northwest has lost 2.4 billion over the last 4 years and continues to lose money. Northwest has indicated they most likely will file bankruptcy in sept. That's the point I was making, I'm sorry if you are offended but the facts above are true according to Northwest's own company statements.

 

[General Lee]

Fletch,


I think most airlines with labor unions (except WN right now) are having problems with their management/labor relations. How are your talks going?


Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[fletch717]

General, I agree but northwest has a strike date of 20 AUG. I would consider that a big labor problem

Look down about 8 threads, I responded to the question about our negotiations.

 

[-9Capt]

Fletch,


How are your talks going?


Bye Bye--General Lee

They arent.

 

[320AV8R]

From Fletch 717...
No labor problems? other than the flight attendants and the mechanics right.

Pssst......go look up sarcasm in your dictionary.

Northwest has indicated they most likely will file bankruptcy in sept.

Really ? Do you have a source ? (Someone besides Ms. Cleo...)

I'm sorry if you are offended but the facts above are true according to Northwest's own company statements.

It would take a lot more than that to offend me. I've lived through worse......

320AV8R

 

[fletch717]

You forgot to quote the 2.4 billion loss, what's the comeback for that?

 

[320AV8R]

You forgot to quote the 2.4 billion loss, what's the comeback for that?

No comeback needed. They are losing $$$$, like nobody knew that.

It doesn't prove your argument that they plan to file in Sept.

320AV8R