In 2009, Airtran averaged 50,000 block hours a month for June, July, and August while averaging only 44,000 block hours a month for September through December (12% average reduction off the summertime peak season). If the first new airplane isn't supposed to arrive until March or April of 2011, why would Airtran be hiring pilots in July 2010? Guys hired in July wouldn't be line qualified FOs until the flying has already dropped off to normal fall schedules (which typically don't require extra pilots).
Maybe Apple/Funjet Vacations is happy with Airtran's performance this winter and is going to expand Airtran's contract for winter 2010/spring 2011. Maybe the company has modeled our Section 5 proposal and realizes it will take more pilots to fly our system under our future contract.
Regardless of what is or is not happening with respect to airplanes, hiring, or new routes, our focus need to be on getting a contract that rewards the Airtran pilots for their hard work since our current contract expired.