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As the World Turns
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Associated Press
AirTran Reportedly Coming to Charlotte
Wednesday February 16, 3:36 pm ET
By Tim Whitmire, Associated Press Writer Discount Carrier AirTran Reportedly Coming to Charlotte, Sources Say
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- Discount carrier AirTran will begin flying from Charlotte-Douglas International Airport to Atlanta and Baltimore later this year, sources said Wednesday.
The move would bring a second discount carrier to an airport long dominated by US Airways Group, which is currently in bankruptcy for the second time in recent years.
Officials at Orlando, Fla.-based AirTran Holdings Inc. could not immediately be reached for comment Wednesday. The airline has hubs in Atlanta and Orlando and offers service to 46 airports.
Airport officials scheduled a news conference for Thursday afternoon at which they said they would make a "major announcement" about service. Officials declined to speak publicly about the scheduled announcement.
The sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said AirTran is to fly to both Baltimore and Atlanta, where the carrier has its primary hub. One of the sources said the carrier would fly three or four times per day to each city.
Service could begin within two to three months, assuming a normal schedule for starting operations.
Mike Boyd, a Colorado-based aviation analyst, said he believes AirTran's move into Charlotte is aimed at outflanking competitor Southwest Airlines Co., which recently announced service to Pittsburgh, a former US Airways hub.
He said Southwest is believed to be eyeing a move into Charlotte.
AirTran's entrance into the Charlotte market would give the city two discount carriers. Flyi Inc.'s Independence Air began flights from Charlotte to Washington D.C.'s Dulles International Airport in October.
In trading Wednesday afternoon, AirTran Holdings' shares fell 8 cents to $8.28 on the New York Stock Exchange. The stock has traded in a 52-week range of $7.40 to $15.56.
AirTran Reportedly Coming to Charlotte
Wednesday February 16, 3:36 pm ET
By Tim Whitmire, Associated Press Writer Discount Carrier AirTran Reportedly Coming to Charlotte, Sources Say
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- Discount carrier AirTran will begin flying from Charlotte-Douglas International Airport to Atlanta and Baltimore later this year, sources said Wednesday.
The move would bring a second discount carrier to an airport long dominated by US Airways Group, which is currently in bankruptcy for the second time in recent years.
Officials at Orlando, Fla.-based AirTran Holdings Inc. could not immediately be reached for comment Wednesday. The airline has hubs in Atlanta and Orlando and offers service to 46 airports.
Airport officials scheduled a news conference for Thursday afternoon at which they said they would make a "major announcement" about service. Officials declined to speak publicly about the scheduled announcement.
The sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said AirTran is to fly to both Baltimore and Atlanta, where the carrier has its primary hub. One of the sources said the carrier would fly three or four times per day to each city.
Service could begin within two to three months, assuming a normal schedule for starting operations.
Mike Boyd, a Colorado-based aviation analyst, said he believes AirTran's move into Charlotte is aimed at outflanking competitor Southwest Airlines Co., which recently announced service to Pittsburgh, a former US Airways hub.
He said Southwest is believed to be eyeing a move into Charlotte.
AirTran's entrance into the Charlotte market would give the city two discount carriers. Flyi Inc.'s Independence Air began flights from Charlotte to Washington D.C.'s Dulles International Airport in October.
In trading Wednesday afternoon, AirTran Holdings' shares fell 8 cents to $8.28 on the New York Stock Exchange. The stock has traded in a 52-week range of $7.40 to $15.56.
