Copyright Photo: Andre Du-Pont. N928ME is now flying out of MEX.

Mexicana Click (subsidiary of Mexicana) (Mexico City) has painted its ex-Midwest Airlines Boeing 717-2BL N928ME (msn 55194) in the 2009 Oneworld Alliance color scheme.

Copyright Photo: PRNewsFoto/AirTran Airways

AirTran Airways (Orlando and Atlanta) yesterday (December 15) while the world was watching the Boeing 787 first flight, introduced its latest Boeing 717-200 logojet, this one for the Orlando Magic of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Dubbed “Magic 1″ the specially-painted 717-2BD, registered N949AT (msn 55003), was introduced at Orlando.

Press release:

finance.yahoo.com/news/AirTran-Airways-Adds-prnews-1443746488.html?x=0&.v=1

N935AT, originally uploaded by bwione.

AirTran Airways (Orlando and Atlanta) will resume scheduled operations to Gulfport/Biloxi from both Atlanta and Tampa starting on January 8, 2010 with Boeing 717s. The carrier had been operating charters to the area devastated by Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

Press release:

finance.yahoo.com/news/AirTran-Airways-Returns-prnews-4234929680.html?x=0&.v=1

Copyright Photo: Tony Storck. Boeing 717-231 N935AT (msn 55069) with special “Orlando Makes Me Smile” titles prepares to land on runway 33L at BWI.

N891AT

Originally uploaded by bwione

AirTran Airways (Orlando and Atlanta) yesterday (December 19) launched weekly Atlanta-Aruba flights. Orlando-Aruba commences on January 9.

Copyright Photo: Tony Storck. Boeing 717-2BD N891AT (msn 55043) in the Atlanta Falcons motif arrives at Baltimore/Washington.

News link:

www.jsonline.com/business/80242707.html

Copyright Photo: Paul Bannwarth. Boeing 717-23S EC-HUZ (msn 55066) is pictured on final approach to Barcelona.

Quantum Air (La Compania Quantum Air S.A.) (Madrid) on January 26 ceased all operations. The company originally started operations on July 4, 2000 with an initial fleet of three Boeing 717-200s under the AeBal (Aerolineas Baleares) brand. It was initially owned by Spanair (51 percent) and the GAS Group )(49 percent). However AeBal (Spanair Link) ceased operations on September 16, 2008 as part of the Spanair restructuring plan. SAS sold the company in January 2009 to Proturin, a Spanish investment company. In March 2009, AeBal was reorganized as Quantum Air.

Copyright Photo: PRNewsFoto/AirTran Airways. Boeing 717-2BD N950AT (msn 55012) "Little Debbie 1" is pictured in the hangar before the inaugural flight in a snowstorm.

AirTran Airways (Orlando and Atlanta) despite a rare snowstorm in Atlanta, yesterday (February 12) celebrated Little Debbie’s 50th anniversary by launching a one-of-a-kind, custom-designed Boeing 717-2BD N950AT (msn 55012), dubbed Little Debbie 1. Flight FL 931, the inaugural flight, departed from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport yesterday at 12:24 p.m. to Jacksonville.

As part of the 50th anniversary, AirTran Airways and Little Debbie are giving away 50 vacation packages in conjunction with The Great American Getaway sweepstakes. Each vacation package includes roundtrip airfare for two to anywhere AirTran flies in the continental United States, two nights at a Holiday Inn hotel, rental car for two days and a $200 cash card. Sweepstakes ends May 31, 2010. For more details and the chance to win, visit www.littledebbie.com. AirTran is also offering $10 vouchers toward travel on Little Debbie packaging during this promotion period.

In addition to The Great American Getaway, AirTran Airways and Little Debbie will announce the winner of the Little Debbie Look-A-Like Contest at the AirTran Airways Atlanta maintenance hangar.  The 10 finalists will help unveil Little Debbie 1, and the winner will be chosen by a panel of judges.  The winner will receive a $5,000 scholarship and other prizes.

McKee Foods, a family bakery with annual sales of more than $1 billion, is a privately held company based in Collegedale, TN. The McKee story began during the height of the Great Depression when founder O.D. McKee began selling 5–cent snack cakes from the back of his car. Soon after, he and his wife, Ruth, bought a small, failing bakery, using the family car as collateral. Today, the company employs more than 6,000 people in Collegedale; Gentry, Ark.; and Stuarts Draft, VA. The company creates and bakes Little Debbie Snacks, Sunbelt Snacks & Cereals, Heartland and Fieldstone Bakery food products. Visit mckeefoods.com for more information.

Editor’s Note: From a public relations standpoint, yesterday (February 12) was a nightmare day for any airline PR event as 49 of the 50 U.S. states had measurable snow on the ground (Hawaii had none) along with thousands of airline cancellations nationwide, not to mention the opening day ceremonies of the Vancouver Winter Olympics (which can use some snow!).

AirTran Airways Boeing 717-2BD N895AT (msn 55047) MIA (Bruce Drum), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.

AirTran Holdings, Inc. (Orlando), the parent company of AirTran Airways, Inc., reported a net loss of $12.0 million or $0.09 per diluted share for the first quarter of 2010. Excluding $4.7 million in unrealized gains on future fuel hedges, the Company’s net loss for the quarter would have been $16.7 million dollars or $0.12 per diluted share. The impact of historic winter snowstorms along the Eastern Seaboard and more than a 50 percent increase in fuel expenses offset record total revenues for the first quarter.

AirTran Airways experienced significant revenue improvement that accelerated through the quarter with total unit revenues increasing by a solid double-digit margin year-over-year in March.

The Company posted record first quarter total revenues of $605.1 million on a record load factor of 77.2 percent. Operating costs increased 21.8 percent or $107.8 million as compared to the same period last year. Fuel was the single largest contributor to the cost increase, accounting for over 60 percent or $67.3 million of the increase. Last year, crude oil averaged $41 per barrel in the first quarter but has risen to $78 this year. Winter storms further pressured unit costs due to reduced capacity and additional expenses related to extreme weather during the quarter.

Copyright Photo: Bruce Drum. Boeing 717-2BD N895AT (msn 55047) taxies to the gate at Miami.

AirTran Airways (Orlando and Atlanta) took delivery on April 30 after repainting at Roswell, NM (previously the logojets were painted at Miami) of its latest logojet. Boeing 717-231 N932AT (msn 55073) is now sporting the team (old?) colors of the Milwaukee Brewers. N932AT was also the last aircraft to wear the 1997 livery. AirTran is expected to officially “unveil” the new logojet (probably at MKE or MCO) in the coming week.

AirTran has somewhat upstaged rival Midwest Airlines (now Frontier Airlines) which is the official airline of the Milwaukee Brewers MLB baseball team. AirTran does sponsor the AirTran Airways Landing Zone, a special all-inclusive group area located in right field at Miller Park in Milwaukee. Frontier has just introduced a tail image of a Wisconsin Badger and a “name the animal contest” for Wisconsin residents. This is the latest installment of the “Battle of Milwaukee” for the patronage of users of MKE.

What is the next logojet for AirTran? Boston Bruins? Here is the official list of its corporate sponsors:

http://www.airtranairways.com/about-us/sponsorships.aspx

AirTran Airways Boeing 717-231 N932AT (msn 55073) (Milwaukee Brewers) MCO (Justin Cederholm), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.

AirTran Airways (Orlando and Atlanta) yesterday (May 4) began twice daily service from Baltimore/Washington Thurgood Marshall International Airport to Jacksonville International Airport.

The company also launched yesterday daily nonstop service from Gerald R. Ford International Airport in Grand Rapids, Mich., to both Orlando International Airport and Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport.

Copyright Photo: Justin Cederholm. The brand new Milwaukee Brewers logojet is pictured departing from Orlando on May 3 as flight FL 828 to Chicago (Midway). Boeing 717-231 N932AT (msn 55073) was also the last AirTran aircraft to wear the old 1997 color scheme.

AirTran Airways Boeing 717-231 N932AT (msn 55073) (Milwaukee Brewers) BWI (Tony Storck), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.

AirTran Airways (Orlando and Atlanta) has been flying its latest logojet since April 30. Today (May 17) the airline and the Milwaukee Brewers unveiled a custom plane painted with throwback Milwaukee Brewers logos and colors to honor the club’s 40th anniversary and the airline’s partnership with the team.

Dubbed Brewers 1, Boeing 717-231 N932AT (msn 55073) was officially “unveiled” in Milwaukee today.

Hall of Fame pitcher Rollie Fingers, mascot Bernie Brewer and team executives were among the VIP guests aboard the aircraft as it made its debut at General Mitchell International Airport after being marshaled in by the Klement’s Famous Racing Sausages.

Kids from the YMCA of Metropolitan Milwaukee pulled the 120,000 lb. aircraft 20 feet at the premiere event to earn $50,000 for their summer sports program.

Brewers 1 is the fifth in a series of custom-painted AirTran aircraft and the first affiliated with a Major League Baseball team. In 2009, AirTran Airways unveiled Falcons 1 in Atlanta, Ravens 1 in Baltimore, Colts 1 in Indianapolis and Magic 1 in Orlando to honor the airline’s partnerships with these professional sports teams.

What will be next? Our guess: the Boston Bruins.

Copyright Photo: Tony Storck. Brewers 1 arrives at Baltimore/Washington.

AirTran Airways Boeing 717-2BD N892AT (msn 55044) MIA (Bruce Drum), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.

AirTran Airways (Orlando) yesterday (May 29) began new nonstop service between Wichita Mid-Continent Airport in Wichita, KS, and Orlando International Airport. The airline will offer a Saturday nonstop flight between the two cities.

Copyright Photo: Bruce Drum. Boeing 717-2BD N892AT (msn 55044) prepares for takeoff at Miami.

Copyright Photo: AirTran Airways. Boeing 717-231 N925AT (msn 55079) is pictured after painting.

AirTran Airways (Orlando) yesterday (June 16) unveiled an addition to their partnership, a one-of-a-kind “Wizarding World of Harry Potter” themedaircraft.

This distinctive aircraft is the latest expansion of a partnership that includes exclusive travel packages and special offers to people traveling on AirTran Airways to the Universal Orlando Resort.

Boeing 717-231 N925AT (msn 55079) features an illustration on the aircraft depicting a wizarding hand, complete with wand, stretching from the back of the plane to the front. The tip of the wand is pointing towards The Wizarding World of Harry Potter logo across the side of the fuselage. The wand and hand sit just above the Universal Orlando Resort emblem.

N925AT went into service on June 16 between San Antonio and Orlando. This Harry Potter logojet follows the Virgin Atlantic Airways version.

Photo: AirTran Airways.

AirTran Airways Boeing 717-2BD N949AT (msn 55003) (Orlando Magic) ATL (Norbert G. Raith), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.

AirTran Holdings, Inc. (Orlando) the parent company of AirTran Airways, Inc., reported a net profit of $12.4 million or $0.09 per diluted share for the second quarter of 2010. Excluding $26.4 million in unrealized losses, net of taxes, related to the reduction in value of future fuel hedges, the Company’s net income for the quarter would have been $38.8 million dollars or $0.23 per diluted share. This result is particularly noteworthy given the 37.2 percent increase in the per-gallon cost of jet fuel, the airline’s single largest expense, year-over-year.

AirTran set quarterly records for revenue passenger miles flown, load factor and enplaned passengers. For the first time in AirTran Airways’ history, load factor topped 83 percent in the second quarter.

Copyright Photo: Norbert G. Raith. Boeing 717-2BD N949AT (msn 55003) painted in the Orlando Magic scheme, arrives at the ATL hub.

Blue1 Boeing 717-23S OH-BLM (msn 55066) MIA (Eddy Gual) (new type, new livery), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.

Blue1 (blue1.com) (Helsinki) will soon take delivery of its first Boeing 717. The new induction is also triggering a new livery. Each aircraft will have an unique design.

Copyright Photo: Eddy Gual. The first is 717-23S OH-BLM (msn 55066) which was painted at Miami.

AirTran Airways Boeing 717-2BD N895AT (msn 55047) MIA (Bruce Drum), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.

AirTran Airways (Orlando) will drop the Atlanta-Miami route on October 7.

Copyright Photo: Bruce Drum. Boeing 717-2BD N895AT (msn 55047) taxies to the gate at MIA.

AirTran Airways Boeing 717-231 N925AT (msn 55079) (The Wizarding World of Harry Potter) BWI (Brian McDonough), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.

AirTran Airways (Orlando) today announced several new flights to Ft. Myers. The airline also announced additional service to Las Vegas.

AirTran Airways will offer flights to Ft. Myers from Bloomington/Normal, IL (starting on March 9, 2011), Buffalo/Niagara Falls, NY (starting on March 8, 2011), Moline/Quad Cities, IL (starting on March 8, 2011), and Rochester, NY 9starting on November 20, 2010).

In addition to the new Ft. Myers flights, AirTran Airways is also adding service from Indianapolis to Las Vegas, five times a week, starting on March 10, 2011.

Copyright Photo: Brian McDonough. Boeing 717-231 N925AT (msn 55079) in the special “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter” promotional scheme prepares to land at Baltimore/Washington.

AirTran Airways Boeing 717-2BD N949AT (msn 55003) (Orlando Magic) FLL (Dave Campbell), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.

Southwest Airlines (Dallas) announced today (September 27) that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire all of the outstanding common stock of AirTran Holdings, Inc. (Orlando), the parent company of AirTran Airways (Orlando), for a combination of cash and Southwest Airlines’ common stock.

At Southwest Airlines’ closing stock price of $12.28 on September 24, 2010, the transaction values AirTran common stock at $7.69 per share, or approximately $1.4 billion in the aggregate, including AirTran’s outstanding convertible notes. This represents a premium of 69 percent over the September 24, 2010 closing price of AirTran stock. Under the agreement, each share of AirTran common stock will be exchanged for $3.75 in cash and 0.321 shares of Southwest Airlines’ common stock, subject to certain adjustments, based on Southwest Airlines’ share price prior to closing. Including the existing AirTran net indebtedness and capitalized aircraft operating leases, the transaction value is approximately $3.4 billion.

The agreement has been unanimously approved by the boards of directors of each company, and closing is subject to the approval of AirTran stockholders, receipt of certain regulatory clearances, and fulfillment of customary closing conditions.

The acquisition will significantly expand Southwest Airlines’ low-fare service to many more Customers in many more domestic markets (especially the mega hub at Atlanta), creating hundreds of additional low-fare itineraries for the traveling public. Moreover, the expansion of low fares should generate hundreds of millions in annual savings to consumers. Based on an economic analysis by Campbell-Hill Aviation Group, LLP*, Southwest Airlines’ more expansive low-fare service at Atlanta, alone, has the potential to stimulate over two million new passengers and over $200 million in consumer savings, annually. These savings would be created from the new low-fare competition that Southwest Airlines would be able to provide as a result of the acquisition, expanding the well-known “Southwest Effect’” of reducing fares and stimulating new passenger traffic wherever it flies.

AirTran revenues and operating income, excluding special items, for the twelve months ending June 30, 2010, were $2.5 billion and $128 million, respectively. Southwest Airlines revenues and operating income, excluding special items, for the twelve months ending June 30, 2010, were $11.2 billion and $843 million, respectively. The proposed transaction, including the anticipated benefit of net synergies, but excluding the impact of one-time acquisition and integration costs, is expected to be accretive to Southwest Airlines pro forma fully-diluted earnings per share in the first year after the close of the transaction and strongly accretive thereafter. Net annual synergies are expected to exceed $400 million by 2013. One-time costs related to the acquisition and integration of AirTran are expected to be in the range of $300 million to $500 million.

As of June 30, 2010, the combined unrestricted cash and short-term investments of the two companies was $3.7 billion. Southwest Airlines intends to fund approximately $670 million in cash consideration for the transaction out of cash on hand. Since June 30, Southwest’s cash and short-term investments balance has increased from $3.1 billion to $3.3 billion. In addition, Southwest Airlines has a fully available, unsecured revolving credit facility of $600 million.

Based on current operations, the combined organization would have nearly 43,000 Employees and serve more than 100 million Customers annually from more than 100 different airports in the U.S. and near-international destinations. In addition, the combined carriers’ all-Boeing fleet consisting of 685 active aircraft would include 401 Boeing 737-700s, 173 Boeing 737-300s, 25 Boeing 737-500s, and 86 Boeing 717s, with an average age of approximately 10 years, one of the youngest fleets in the industry. Southwest Airlines also announced, previously, that it is evaluating the opportunity to introduce the Boeing 737-800 into its domestic network to complement its current fleet, providing opportunities for longer-haul flying and service to high-demand, slot-controlled, or gate-restricted markets. This acquisition supports Southwest Airlines’ evaluation of the Boeing 737-800.

Until closing, Southwest Airlines and AirTran will continue to operate as independent companies. After closing, Bob Fornaro will continue to be involved in the integration of the two companies. Southwest Airlines plans to integrate AirTran into the Southwest Airlines Brand by transitioning the AirTran fleet to the Southwest Airlines livery, developing a consistent Customer Experience, and consolidating corporate functions into its Dallas headquarters. Subject to receipt of necessary approvals, Southwest Airlines’ integration plans include transitioning the operations of the two carriers to a Single Operating Certificate. Plans for existing AirTran facilities will be developed by integration teams and decisions will be announced at appropriate times. The carriers’ frequent-flyer programs will be combined over time, as well.

Copyright Photo: Dave Campbell. Southwest Airlines will become a new operator of the Boeing 717. Both companies are very supportive of logojets and special promotions. 717-2BD N949AT (msn 55003) in the Orlando Magic motif taxies to the runway at Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood.

 

AirTran Airways Boeing 717-231 N932AT (msn 55073) (Milwaukee Brewers) BWI (Tony Storck), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.

AirTran Airways (Orlando) at the Air Line Pilots Association Int’l (ALPA), representing the pilots of AirTran Airways, have reached a tentative agreement after more than five years of contract negotiations. The agreement represents the first contract for AirTran pilots since they joined ALPA in 2009.

The terms of the tentative agreement establish the foundation for a fair and equitable contract. Details of the settlement will not be released to the public until approved by the AirTran Master Executive Council (MEC) and ratified by AirTran pilots. If the pilot representatives on the AirTran MEC give their approval, a membership ratification vote will take place in November.

AirTran has agreed to be acquired by Southwest Airlines and is awaiting shareholder and regulatory approval for the buyout.

On the financial side, AirTran Holdings, Inc., the parent company of AirTran Airways, Inc., today reported a net profit of $36.3 million or $0.22per diluted share for the third quarter of 2010. During the quarter, the Company reported operating income of $56.7 million.

Included in these third quarter results is a non-operating gain on derivative financial instruments of $15.3 million. This non-operating gain on derivative financial instruments was largely attributable to unrealized increases in the fair value of our future fuel-related derivative assets. During the same period in 2009, AirTran Airways reported net income of $10.4 million, and diluted earnings per common share of $0.08. Included in our third quarter 2009 results is a non-operating loss on derivative financial instruments of $10.3 million. The Company ended the third quarter with $424.5 million in unrestricted cash and the Company’s revolving line of credit remains undrawn.

During this period, the Company also achieved an all-time record for traffic (revenue passenger miles), and second highest load factor in Company history. AirTran Airways also established record setting operational metrics during the quarter, including the highest ever performance in on-time arrivals at 83.4 percent. In July alone, AirTran Airways served more than 2.4 million customers and achieved a load factor in excess of 88 percent. The Company continued to rank among the top of the industry in completion factor, mishandled baggage rate and the number of customer complaints the Department of Transportation receives.

Copyright Photo: Tony Storck. Please click on photo for further details.

Southwest Airlines (Dallas) announced the Aircraft Maintenance Technicians (AMT) from Southwest Airlines, represented by the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA), and AirTran Airways (Dallas), represented by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) Local 528, voted to ratify their Seniority Integration Agreement. This agreement integrates the two groups’ seniority lists. Southwest Airlines finalized closing of the acquisition of AirTran Holdings, Inc., on May 2, 2011.

AMFA represents approximately 1,750 Southwest Airlines Aircraft Maintenance Technicians, and the IBT represents close to 500 Mechanics from AirTran Airways.

Today’s vote by the AMTs means they now join the Pilots, Flight Attendants, Flight Instructors, Dispatchers, and Ramp, Operations, Provisioning and Freight Agents as having successfully completed the Seniority Integration negotiation process. Work groups still in seniority integration negotiations include Customer Service Agents and Customer Support and Service Employees and Materials Specialists.

This moves the merger one step closer.

Top Copyright Photo: Bruce Drum.

Southwest Airlines: 

AirTran Airways: 

Bottom Copyright Photo: Jay Selman. The AirTran Boeing 717s will not be painted in Southwest’s livery.