More Record Traffic

[B717mech]

AirTran Airways Reports Record September Traffic
October 02, 2003 05:30:00 AM ET



ORLANDO, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 2, 2003--AirTran Airways, a subsidiary of AirTran Holdings, Inc. AAI, today reported that passenger traffic, or revenue passenger miles (RPMs), represents a record for the month of September.

Based on RPMs, traffic grew by 37.6 percent, to 525.6 million RPMs, on an increase of 26.0 percent in capacity, based on available seat miles (ASMs). September's load factor reached 63.4 percent compared to 58.0 percent in September 2002. Year-to-date load factor was 71.6 percent, versus 68.1 percent for the same period last year. The airline also enplaned 862,715 passengers in the month of September, a 31.1 percent increase over September 2002.


AIRTRAN AIRWAYS SEPTEMBER 2003 TRAFFIC
(Preliminary)

Sept. 2003 Sept. 2002 Change

Revenue Passenger Miles (000) 525,619 381,899 37.6%
Available Seat Miles (000) 829,099 657,872 26.0%
Load Factor 63.4% 58.0% 5.4 points
Passengers Enplaned 862,715 657,870 31.1%


3Q 2003 3Q 2002 Change

Revenue Passenger Miles (000) 1,910,161 1,426,776 33.9%
Available Seat Miles (000) 2,601,682 2,144,572 21.3%
Load Factor 73.4% 66.5% 6.9 points
Passengers Enplaned 3,120,762 2,441,115 27.8%


Y-T-D 2003 Y-T-D 2002 Change

Revenue Passenger Miles (000) 5,269,195 4,111,647 28.2%
Available Seat Miles (000) 7,361,437 6,036,761 21.9%
Load Factor 71.6% 68.1% 3.5 points
Passengers Enplaned 8,643,229 7,144,586 21.0%


"AirTran Airways is pleased to again report positive growth in customers served. Looking ahead to our market openings in San Francisco and at Reagan National, the AirTran Airways team is excited to bring our high-quality, low-fare service to more customers, while returning value to our shareholders," said President and COO Robert L. Fornaro.

Speaks for itself

[haze]

And, the rest of the story:

[ The Atlanta Journal-Constitution: 10/2/03 ]

AirTran reports strong growth in September

Staff report


AirTran Airways continued its strong growth in September, logging a 37.6 percent gain in passenger traffic on a 26 percent jump in capacity.

The discount airline, which has a hub at Hartsfield International Airport, said it sold 63.4 percent of its seats in the month, up from 58 percent a year earlier.

AirTran has grown steadily since 2001 despite the travel slump that has forced larger carriers to cut back. The airline's traffic, as measured in revenue passenger miles, is up 28.2 percent for the first nine months of the year.

Also Thursday, American Airlines reported that traffic fell 1.7 percent in September, although the percentage of seats sold rose to 66.7 from 63.9.

Southwest Airlines said traffic rose 10.6 percent, while percentage of seats sold rose to 60.4 from 56.8.