Airtran Airways hires 1,000th Pilot

[717Doc]

ORLANDO, Fla., Dec. 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --


AirTran Airways, a subsidiary of AirTran Holdings, Inc. AAI, today announced that the airline has hired its 1,000th pilot, a first in the history of the growing company. Keith "Vick" Rhoden, 36, is the 1,000th pilot hired by AirTran Airways. The 14-year military and commercial aviation pilot from Chicago, Ill., will begin his AirTran Airways' career by serving as a first officer on the Boeing 717 aircraft.

The employment milestone for the successful low-fare airline can be attributed to a successful business model with steady increases in aircraft fleet numbers and destinations served. In 2004, AirTran Airways brought eight new Boeing 737s and six new Boeing 717s into service, introduced more than 18 new nonstop routes and set company records for monthly traffic and bookings. In 2005, the airline will take delivery of 19 new Boeing aircraft.

"By setting sustainable goals, AirTran Airways has continued to succeed and excel in the commercial airline business environment," commented Joe Leonard, AirTran Airways chairman and chief executive officer. "The hiring of our 1,000th pilot is another substantial benchmark for our growing company. Very few airlines can claim this milestone. Under our current growth projections, we expect to hire our 2,000th pilot in only four years from now."

AirTran Airways now employees over 6,000 Crew Members nationwide and expects this number to increase in the near future for a number of reasons:

* The airline will begin service to and from Sarasota Bradenton
International Airport on December 17.
* AirTran Airways recently announced that it will be adding seven new
nonstop flights to Florida destinations from Chicago Midway in January.
* Service expansions are pending in Chicago (Midway Airport), Washington,
D.C. (Reagan National Airport) and New York (LaGuardia Airport) as part
of an agreement with ATA Airlines.

AirTran Airways is one of America's largest low-fare airlines -- with 6,000 friendly, professional Crew Members and operating over 500 flights a day to more than 40 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. AirTran Airways, a subsidiary of AirTran Holdings AAI, is the world's largest operator of the Boeing 717 and has America's youngest all-Boeing fleet which includes the new Boeing 737-700 aircraft.

[Doko Deska]

I hope they all got adequate drug and alcohol tests.. Especially the ones who fly to Las Vegas.

[B717mech]

You are so funny it kills me

[SDK4]

I read an article today about concerns over Airtran and other airlines hiring new pilots who were thought to have not had enough training to handle airplane emergencies. Has anyone else heard anything about this?