Low Cost Carrier Drives Down Fares and Offers New Nonstop Service to Branson, Denver, Minneapolis-St. Paul and St. Louis
AirTran Airways, a subsidiary of AirTran Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:AAI) , today announced that the airline will increase capacity and expand its Milwaukee operations by more than 40 percent with new and extended service. In May, the airline will begin daily nonstop flights between Milwaukee and the following four new destinations: Branson, Mo., St. Louis, Mo., and Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn., plus seasonal service to Denver, Colo. The new flights are part of the carrier's strategy to expand service from General Mitchell International Airport in Milwaukee and bolster travel options for local residents.
The new and extended service will result in unprecedented growth for AirTran Airways in the market, with 30 daily departures from Milwaukee for the peak summer schedule, up from 21 in summer 2008 -- a 43 percent increase year over year. Additionally, the number of seats available per week on departing flights will grow 39 percent year over year. The airline will offer nonstop service to 18 destinations from Milwaukee, an increase from 14 previously.
"AirTran Airways is increasing flights by more than 40 percent in Milwaukee to meet the market's service demands," said Tad Hutcheson, vice president of marketing and sales, AirTran Airways. "We see enormous potential in Milwaukee, and this increase in service underscores our commitment to growth in the market. With the addition of AirTran Airways' new flights, Milwaukeeans can expect to see fares drop as much as 60 percent on these routes, and we are confident that residents will continue responding to our lower fares to more destinations."
The carrier will offer two daily roundtrips to Minneapolis-St. Paul effective May 5, with an increase to three daily roundtrips effective May 21. Service to Branson will begin May 11 with one daily roundtrip flight. AirTran Airways will also offer two daily roundtrips to St. Louis and one daily roundtrip to Denver, effective May 21. Seasonal service to Denver will end September 8, 2009.
In addition to the new routes, AirTran Airways will increase three seasonal destinations to year-round service, flights to Los Angeles will return on April 14, service to Boston will return May 21, and winter seasonal service to Tampa/St. Petersburg will be maintained year-round. In addition, seasonal service to both San Francisco and Seattle/Tacoma will be extended to October 30 and could be added to the roster of year-round flights in the future.
"I welcome the news that AirTran Airways is bringing more flight options to General Mitchell International Airport," said Milwaukee County Executive, Scott Walker. "More competition between the airlines means lower fares for local business and leisure travelers. Direct flights are critical for our region's long-term economic development."
AirTran Airways also offers connections to an additional 28 destinations through Atlanta, Baltimore/Washington, Boston, New York and Orlando, for a total of 46 destinations served from Milwaukee.
The chart below details all current and upcoming service out of Milwaukee:
Current May 21
Destination Schedule Schedule Service Details
Atlanta 4 4
Baltimore/Washington 2 3
Boston 0 2 Service will now be year-round
Branson* 0 1 Effective May 11
Denver* 0 1 Service will be seasonal,
through Sept. 8
Fort Lauderdale 1 0 Seasonal service - will return
Winter 2009-2010
Fort Myers 2 Sat-only Daily service will return Winter
2009-2010
Las Vegas 2 2
Los Angeles 0 2 First roundtrip returns
April 14th, service
will be year-round
Minneapolis/St. Paul* 0 3
New York (LaGuardia) 2 3
Orlando 4 3
Phoenix 1 0 Seasonal service - will return
Winter 2009-2010
Saint Louis* 0 2
San Diego 0 1 Service will be seasonal,
through Sept. 8
San Francisco 0 1 Seasonal service extended
through Oct. 30
Seattle/Tacoma 0 1 Seasonal service extended
through Oct. 30
Tampa/St. Petersburg 1 1 Service will now be year-round
Total daily roundtrips 19 30
Total nonstop
destinations 14 18
*New routes
