5 years of 717's

[717Doc]

AirTran Airways Marks Five Years of Boeing 717 Service
September 23, 2004 4:03:00 PM ET


ORLANDO, Fla., Sept. 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- AirTran Airways, a subsidiary of AirTran Holdings, Inc. AAI, today recognized the five-year anniversary of the addition of the Boeing 717 aircraft to its fleet. Since the first revenue flight for the aircraft five years ago today, AirTran Ariways has become the world's largest operator of the Boeing 717. The airline's fleet currently includes 77 717 airplanes.

"The Boeing 717 is the cornerstone of our operation," said Joe Leonard, AirTran Airways' chairman and chief executive officer. "In the five years of operating the aircraft, the 717 has helped make AirTran Airways the cost-efficient airline that it is today," he added.

"The Boeing 717 is a proven market development aircraft that has helped us achieve cost savings through higher dispatch reliability and fuel efficiency," said Robert L. Fornaro, president and chief operating officer. "In fact we estimate the Boeing 717 to be 24 percent more fuel efficient than our previous aircraft," he added.

The growing airline also recently added the larger Boeing 737 to its impressive fleet, the youngest all-Boeing fleet in America. Both environmentally friendly planes feature the low-fare airline's signature two-by-two award-winning Business Class seating, EasyFit oversized storage bins and 100 percent fresh air throughout the cabin. AirTran Airways will begin outfitting all of its planes with XM Satellite Radio this fall.