Airtran gets number 100:)

[Dizel8]

AirTran Airways Becomes Fastest Airline in History to Reach Milestone of 100 Planes
Thursday October 20, 10 pm ET
Airline teams with The Boeing Company to make donation to Atlanta-area high school as part of the celebration welcoming its 100th aircraft


ORLANDO, Fla., Oct. 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- AirTran Airways, a subsidiary of AirTran Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: AAI - News), today celebrated the addition of the company's 100th aircraft into the airline's fleet. The plane, a Boeing 717, ship number 749 and registration number N923AT, was welcomed during a delivery ceremony at the airline's maintenance hangar at Hartsfield- Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
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"Building on our long-standing partnership with The Boeing Company, today marks a significant milestone for our airline as we take delivery of our 100th aircraft," said Joe Leonard, AirTran Airways' chairman and chief executive officer. "As our competitors face strikes, layoffs and bankruptcies, our airline continues to grow by adding new markets, new routes and new planes. Our loyal customers choose to fly with us because of the quality of service we offer, including these new planes."

As part of the festivities, Atlanta-area North Clayton High School's marching band helped usher in the plane in a parade that included 100 of the airline's original Crew Members. AirTran Airways and Boeing executives then offered to make a donation to the marching band if the group would help "pull" the airplane into service. After the band pulled the 84,000 pound aircraft more than 40 feet, AirTran Airways and The Boeing Company donated funds to the organization for new band uniforms.

"Our all-new Boeing fleet has been a key factor in operating a highly efficient airline," said Robert L. Fornaro, AirTran Airways' president and chief operating officer. "The reliability, performance and operating economics of these airplanes are a perfect fit for our low-cost business model."

 

[TV9Driver]

Dizel8, could you make a few more postings, I like looking at your Avatar.....

does anyone know if this is the last 717 we'll be getting? I thought I had heard a few months ago that we were only getting a few more 717s and then it was going to be all 737s after that.

also, i've been running out of rumors to talk about during flights... any good FL rumors floating around?

 

[jester757]

Dizel8, could you make a few more postings, I like looking at your Avatar.....

does anyone know if this is the last 717 we'll be getting? I thought I had heard a few months ago that we were only getting a few more 717s and then it was going to be all 737s after that.

also, i've been running out of rumors to talk about during flights... any good FL rumors floating around?

Concesions: Pay cuts, work rule changes, etc.

 

[VABB]

Wow, 100 airplanes. That also equates to 100 separate lease payments. Hope they keep filling up those seats.

 

[gt1900]

UMMMM Actually, no it doesn't. I don't know how many planes AT owns but they do own a couple. I believe its around 5 of the 737's and I have no idea how many 717's..

 

[GuppyPuppy]

AirTran Airways Becomes Fastest Airline in History to Reach Milestone of 100 Planes

Until JB does it early next year!

GP

 

[tubelcane]

Joe Leonard will be gone within a year. Rumor

Were getting bought by Alaska. Rumor

I don't believe Airtran owns any 717's when the leases run out beginning in 2014, they will be going back to Boeing, if not sooner. Fact

Airtran owns less than 10% of it's fleet. I think this is a fact.

Were hedged at $40 a barrel thru 2010! Dream.

 

[say again]

Maybe by the time they get their 200th plane I'll have a job with you guys!!!:beer:

 

[OffHot]

Believe you guys are the only airline that hedges jetfuel. And since the cost of refinning jeta has doubled over the past six months, your hedges might work out better than SWA depending on how much you hedged.

 

[DonVerita]

Until JB does it early next year!

GP

RJ's don't count.

 

[MD80DRVR]

True, I guess the 717 doesn't count then.

 

[GuppyPuppy]

RJ's don't count.

Ah. Good one.

OK...JB will have 100 A320's by late next year. How do ya' like that poop?

GP

 

[nwaredtail]

Yeah, "forklift" Joe seems to be doing well. I wonder how his conscious is about killing almost 300 people in Chicago in 1979?​

 

[jester757]

Yeah, "forklift" Joe seems to be doing well. I wonder how his conscious is about killing almost 300 people in Chicago in 1979?​

AH, you are assuming he has one...which he (and the rest of the CEOs) doesn't.

 

[Ualexpress]

Yeah, "forklift" Joe seems to be doing well. I wonder how his conscious is about killing almost 300 people in Chicago in 1979?​

Why didn't you ask him that question yourself when he was an executive at NWA?

 

[DonVerita]

True, I guess the 717 doesn't count then.

I guess you're...wrong.

100 seats or less is still an RJ.

The B717 has 117 seats including 12 in Business Class. A straight coach configuration would yeild a total of 125 seats.

Looks like you are a victim of voodoo math.

 

[GuppyPuppy]

I guess you're...wrong.

100 seats or less is still an RJ.

The B717 has 117 seats including 12 in Business Class. A straight coach configuration would yeild a total of 125 seats.

Thanks so much, Don.

One of the reasons that our pay is so stinkin' low on the 190 is because we still have pilots like you calling it an RJ.

GP

 

[MD80DRVR]

I must have missed the definition of RJ that says 100 seats or less. I heard it was 117 seats or less.

 

[Steeler Fan]

I must have missed the definition of RJ that says 100 seats or less. I heard it was 117 seats or less.

137 seats or less, don't forget that we have 737s now

 

[DonVerita]

One of the reasons that our pay is so stinkin' low on the 190 is because we still have pilots like you calling it an RJ.

GP

The reason your pay is "so stinkin' low on the 190" is because you don't have a contract. Maybe if you guys would stand up for yourselves, instead of walking around the airport terminals like you own the world, and get an in-house union (or whomever you want) on the premises, you'd have the leverage to negotiate proper pay rates.

But I know that may be hard to do since all your pilots signed management's ridiculous individual 5 year "renewable" labor agreement as a condition of being hired and therefore have a perpetual dark cloud hanging over your heads.

 

[MD80DRVR]

The reason your pay is "so stinkin' low on the 190" is because you don't have a contract. Maybe if you guys would stand up for yourselves, instead of walking around the airport terminals like you own the world, and get an in-house union (or whomever you want) on the premises, you'd have the leverage to negotiate proper pay rates.

But I know that may be hard to do since all your pilots signed management's ridiculous individual 5 year "renewable" labor agreement as a condition of being hired and therefore have a perpetual dark cloud hanging over your heads.

Sure, the Unions at Delta, USAirways, NWA, United, TWA etc... have done such a great job for their members.... Makes me want to run right out and start one of my own...........NOT!

 

[DonVerita]

Sure, the Unions at Delta, USAirways, NWA, United, TWA etc... have done such a great job for their members.... Makes me want to run right out and start one of my own...........NOT!

I knew it wouldn't take long for an immature jab like that to be posted. Re-read what I wrote.

I said, "in-house union (or whomever)".

We do quite well with our union. It is in-house and has solid support from our pilot group as evidenced by polls conducted by an outside professional polling company.

 

[MD80DRVR]

Listen dude.....did you ever think that maybe we don't want a union (in-house or not)? If you don't work here, then why do you even give a sh*t? Why don't you worry about yourself and we'll worry about JetBlue.

 

[DonVerita]

Listen dude.....did you ever think that maybe we don't want a union (in-house or not)? If you don't work here, then why do you even give a sh*t? Why don't you worry about yourself and we'll worry about JetBlue.

A lot of people give a sh*t because you are dragging down the pay for the rest of the industry with your new EMB190 wannabe a full-size jet. That puts pressure on everyone else to lower their wages. We are in contract negotiations right now and you and your kool-aid drinking management brown nosers aren't making things any easier for us or any other pilot group trying to hold the line.

Next thing you know, you'll have pay for training...and be happy to do it. Thank you sir, may I have another?

 

[MD80DRVR]

Well since we're talking about two completely different aircraft, and because our's are RJ's and your's are not... you shouldn't have to worry about it. Two totally different animals. So instead of wasting your time posting here about a company that you have nothing to do with, why don't you go volunteer for your union and help them get and industry leading contract.

 

[717capt]

Hey Don,

settle down dude. MD80DRVR is right, let them worry about jetBlue and we'll worry about AirTran. I'm sure jetBlue is getting just as many resumes a day as we are and I'm also quite sure all those people that are sending in those resumes are fully aware of the pay rates. Wasn't that long ago that we were accused of dragging down the industry, sh!t we probably still are. When I started here, Capts made a salary of $50,000 per year and FO's $25,000. I knew full well what the pay was when I accepted the job. I took a chance and it payed off. I upgraded after 13 months and am now in the top 20% of the seniority list. Regarding your comments about us being in contract negotiations right now. Here's how I see it. If management offers a sub standard contract and our negotiating comitee accepts it and after a vote it is ratified, then shame on us, we have no one to blame but ourselves. Not MD80DRVR, not jetBlue not anyone. Just ourselves. As far as pay for training goes, Valujet, which was the predecesor to AirTran, (for those that didn't know that, just kidding), was pay for training. I realise that we both work for the same company but I think your comments to MD80DRVR were a little out of line.

 

[DonVerita]

Hey Don,

...Regarding your comments about us being in contract negotiations right now. Here's how I see it. If management offers a sub standard contract and our negotiating comitee accepts it and after a vote it is ratified, then shame on us, we have no one to blame but ourselves. Not MD80DRVR, not jetBlue not anyone. Just ourselves. As far as pay for training goes, Valujet, which was the predecesor to AirTran, (for those that didn't know that, just kidding), was pay for training. I realise that we both work for the same company but I think your comments to MD80DRVR were a little out of line.

Hey Capt,

I stand by my comments and I stand by my union negotiating team.

And I really don't care how it used to be back when you were part of the old ValuJet days; I wasn't there, nor would I ever have applied for a position with that airline. For all we know, you're a former scab. The current AirTran has no ties to the old ValuJet other than a few remnants like yourself. Totally different airline.

I never insinuated that anyone was to blame for an upcoming contract of which we have no idea what it will be. My point was that since jetBlue doesn't have a union or a contract themselves, they are unfortunately unable to exercise any leverage in getting those -190 pay rates up to something more respectable and that hurts all of us.

One thing is for sure though. Management will still keep paying themselves bonuses no matter what happens.

 

[Ty Webb]

Can you feel the love?

 

[mnboyev]

It feels good..... Ahh... thats it.. right there...... Union brotherly love...

God... I hope we get a contract before another Discount Airline Guy commercial comes out. This industry is degrading into a sink hole.

I heard possibly leather seats for Business Class ??

 

[Ty Webb]

3 more 737 this year, 2 a month next year, one more city this year, leather seats in biz- all confirmed.