AirTran to Initiate Service at Huntsville International Airport; Additional Service Hinges on Community Support

AirTran Airways recently announced new non-stop service to Huntsville, Ala., from Baltimore/Washington (BWI) and Orlando (MCO) beginning May 27. The new flights will operate daily on 117-seat Boeing 717-200 aircraft. While officials at Huntsville International Airport recognize the tremendous benefits the new non-stop service will provide to the BWI and MCO markets, they are quick to point out that additional AirTran service will depend upon the support of the community.

Sample of Fares*

Destination	Lowest Leisure	Lowest Walk-up	Lowest Business Class
BWI	$99	$199	$279
MCO	$89	$179	$249

Nonstop Service Between HSV and BWI

From	To	Flight	Departs	Arrives	Frequency
BWI	HSV	755	10:30 a.m.	11:20 a.m.	Daily
BWI	HSV	751	8:05 p.m.	8:55 p.m.	Daily
HSV**	BWI	756	7:00 a.m.	9:50 a.m.	Daily
HSV	BWI	752	4:45 p.m.	7:35 p.m.	Daily

Nonstop Service Between HSV and MCO

From	To	Flight	Departs	Arrives	Frequency
HSV	MCO	754	11:55 a.m.	2:40 p.m.	Daily
MCO	HSV	753	3:30 p.m.	4:10 p.m.	Daily

For more information or to make reservations, visit www.airtran.com. Reservations can also be made at no additional charge using the Huntsville Hot Ticket Hot Line service by calling 256-258-1944 Monday – Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

“Huntsville is known as the ‘Rocket City’ and AirTran Airways is pleased to take the residents of northern Alabama to new heights of air travel," said Kevin Healy, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Planning, AirTran Airways. “Connecting Huntsville to two of our largest operations gives residents access to our award-winning service and low fares.”

 “We are thrilled to welcome AirTran as the new low-cost carrier for the Tennessee Valley region,” stated Bill Johnston, Jr., Chairman, Board of Directors, Huntsville International Airport. “The addition of BWI and MCO to the list of non-stop destinations for our market is invaluable. With Washington, D.C. as our number one market, the addition of BWI will provide our passengers with even greater flexibility. As well, Orlando is among our top three markets, and the implementation of this destination will help to fill a void for our community after having lost the MCO non-stop service in 2008.”

While officials at Huntsville International Airport recognize the tremendous benefits the new non-stop service will provide to the BWI and MCO markets, they are quick to point out that additional AirTran service will depend upon the support of the community. According to Rick Tucker, Executive Director, Huntsville International Airport, “Attracting and sustaining a low-cost carrier is a community-wide issue that affects each and every one of us – from the leisure traveler to the business traveler alike. The $1 million Small Community Air Service Development grant recently awarded by Department of Transportation was a major stepping stone toward attracting AirTran to serve HSV, and the funds will be used as risk mitigation to offset operating expenses of initiating the service within our market; however, the full benefits of AirTran’s service will be seen with the addition of the Atlanta market, which hinges solely upon the support of the community. The Atlanta market would be AirTran’s gateway to the entire United States in terms of air travel for our community and would be the determining factor in our passengers saving an average of 40 percent on airfares, yielding a total savings in excess of $60 million per year for our community. Now more than ever is the time when we look toward the community to pledge its financial support and bring the Atlanta service to Huntsville.”

On March 1, the Chambers of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County, Decatur/Morgan County and Athens/Limestone County – along with Huntsville International Airport – announced a Tennessee Valley low-cost carrier recruitment initiative. ADTRAN, the first corporate partner to join the initiative, pledged its financial contribution and challenged other corporations to do the same.

Don Nalley, Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County, praised the announcement, stating, “Each year, nearly half a million people from within our community drive to competitive airports to take advantage of lower fares. The announcement today is an excellent first step to providing all of the citizens of the Tennessee Valley more air travel options and phenomenal savings. This is an exciting first step; if we get the business community and our residents to support this endeavor so AirTran adds the Atlanta service, our residents will enjoy more air travel options to more destinations with guaranteed lower fares. It is certainly in our best interest to continue to promote this program to all of our businesses and residents in the community.”

As part of the recruitment initiative, the three chambers hosted town hall meetings to educate business and industry as to the savings that can be realized with a low-cost carrier and asked them to support the recruitment initiative with a financial contribution.

Appointments are still available for companies and groups seeking to learn more information about the recruitment initiative. To set up an appointment, call 256-258-1977.

*All fares are one-way, available daily and are valid in either direction. Lowest leisure fare and lowest walk-up fare are non-refundable, and a $75 fee per person applies to any change made after purchase plus any applicable increase in airfare. Seats are limited, subject to availability and may not be available on all flights. A first bag may be checked for a fee of up to $15 per person and a second bag may be checked for a fee of up to $25 per person. Reservations may be obtained or changed through an AirTran Airways Telephone Reservations Center for an additional $15.00 per person. Fares, routes and schedules are subject to change without notice. Fares do not include per-segment tax of $3.70. A segment is defined as one takeoff and one landing. The September 11th security fee of up to $10 is not included. Airport Passenger Facility Charges of up to $18 are not included.

  **Service begins May 28, 2010