Tag Archives: Boeing 717

AirTran Airways adds new flights to Fort Myers

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 to drop the Atlanta-Miami route on October 7

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.

The first Boeing 717 is painted for Blue1

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 Holdings reports a 2Q net profit of $12.4 million

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.

AirTran Airways unveils its “Wizarding World of Harry Potter” logojet

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

AirTran Airways (Orlando) yesterday (June 16)ย unveiled an addition to their partnership, a one-of-a-kind โ€œWizarding World of Harry Potterโ€ 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 starts Wichita-Orlando nonstop flights

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.

Blue1 to add the Boeing 717

Image: Blue1 via Allan Huse.

Blue1 (Helsinki) will invest in 120-seat Boeing 717-200 aircraft for its fleet to meet the needs of its rapidly expanding route network and increasing operations.

Blue1 is focusing more and more on becoming a business travelersโ€™ airline, with a strong emphasis on both the number of routes and operations. The contents of the service product are also being renewed to respond to the new needs of the Finnish business traveler. The Boeing 717 has an important role in the companyโ€™s route strategy and the growth of operations, as well as the service experience for our customers.

The first Boeing 717 aircraft will join the Blue1 fleet in the autumn of 2010. The total number of aircraft in the fleet will be nine within six months. With the acquisition of the Boeing 717, Blue1โ€™s aim is to double its fleet in a couple of years and to transfer to a fleet of just one type of aircraft.

As part of this new introduction, Blue1 will also introduce an unique and different blue color scheme for each aircraft.

AirTran Airways officially unveils “Brewers 1”

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 launches new routes

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 puts its new Milwaukee Brewers logojet into service, did it upstage Midwest/Frontier?

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 theย 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