AirTran Airways to Initiate Service to Cancun

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ORLANDO, Fla., June 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- AirTran Airways, a subsidiary of AirTran Holdings, Inc. AAI, today announced it has received approval from the United States Department of Transportation to begin service to Cancun International Airport. AirTran Airways' nonstop flights to Cancun will start December 15, 2005, with service from both Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and Tampa International Airport. Schedules and fares for the new service will be announced next month. The low-fare carrier hopes to soon receive approval for the addition of a Cancun route from Orlando International Airport.

"We appreciate that the U.S. Department of Transportation has found this application for new service to be consistent with Department policy and the public interest," Kevin Healy, AirTran Airways' vice president of planning. "We look forward to working with Aeropuertos Del Sureste (ASUR) and the Cancun International Airport for a successful launch of service in December."

AirTran Airways will offer the first low fare scheduled service to Cancun from Atlanta and Tampa. The airline currently provides more than 200 flights a day to 46 destinations from its hub at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, and this new service will introduce low fares to a number of markets and stimulate new demand between the United States and Cancun.

AirTran Airways will utilize its growing fleet of fuel-efficient Boeing 737 aircraft to serve this new international route. Since taking delivery of its first 737 in summer of 2004, AirTran Airways has been working on growing its route map with international and westward expansion. Cancun will be the airline's second international destination (behind Grand Bahamas Island) and bring its network total to 48 destinations.