AirTran Airways Reports Record Traffic In October
ORLANDO, Fla., Nov. 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — AirTran Airways, a subsidiary of AirTran Holdings, Inc. , today reported its October revenue passenger miles (RPMs), available seat miles (ASMs), and passengers enplaned all represent company records for the month.
AirTran Airways’ traffic, measured by revenue passenger miles (RPMs), grew by 12.5 percent, to over 1 billion RPMs, on an increase of 22.1 percent incapacity, based on available seat miles (ASMs). October’s load factor was 67.3 percent. The airline enplaned more than 1.6 million passengers in the month of October, an 11.8 percent increase from October 2005.
Commenting on the traffic results, Kevin Healy, AirTran Airways’ vice president of planning said, “While our October results reflect softer demand brought about by the factors outlined in our previous 8K filings, our traffic levels have improved from September and we expect to see continued improvement in our November and December traffic levels.”
Year-to-date 2006 traffic grew 23.4 percent on a capacity increase of 24.7 percent, while load factor was 73.4 percent. The airline has enplaned a record number of passengers with 16,642,209 boardings year-to-date.
AirTran Airways October 2006 Traffic (Preliminary) October 2006 October 2005 Change Revenue Passenger Miles (000) 1,089,076 968,191 12.5% Available Seat Miles (000) 1,617,392 1,324,218 22.1% Load Factor 67.3% 73.1% -5.8 points Passengers Enplaned 1,608,222 1,438,595 11.8% Y-T-D 2006 Y-T-D 2005 Change Revenue Passenger Miles (000) 11,487,344 9,308,036 23.4% Available Seat Miles (000) 15,643,431 12,548,904 24.7% Load Factor 73.4% 74.2% -0.8 points Passengers Enplaned 16,642,209 13,688,611 21.6%
AirTran Airways, a Fortune 1000 company and one of America’s largest low- fare airlines with 8,000 friendly, professional Crew Members, operates nearly 700 daily flights to 52 destinations. The airline’s hub is at Hartsfield- Jackson Atlanta International Airport, where it is the second largest carrier. AirTran Airways’ aircraft features the fuel-efficient Boeing 737-700 and 717- 200 to create America’s youngest all-Boeing fleet. The airline is also the first carrier to install XM Satellite Radio on a commercial aircraft and the only airline with Business Class and XM Satellite Radio on every flight. For reservations or more information, visit http://www.airtran.com/ (America Online Keyword: AirTran).
Editor’s note: Statements regarding the Company’s operational and financial success, business model, expectation about future success, improved operational performance and our ability to maintain or improve our low costs are forward-looking statements and are not historical facts. Instead, they are estimates or projections involving numerous risks or uncertainties, including but not limited to, consumer demand and acceptance of services offered by the Company, the Company’s ability to maintain current cost levels, fare levels and actions by competitors, regulatory matters and general economic conditions. Additional information concerning factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements is contained from time to time in the Company’s SEC filings, including but not limited to the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2005. The Company disclaims any obligation or duty to update or correct any of its forward-looking statements.
Media Contacts: Tad Hutcheson tad.hutcheson@airtran.com 678.254.7442 Judy Graham-Weaver judy.graham-weaver@airtran.com 678.254.7448
AirTran Airways
CONTACT: Tad Hutcheson, +1-678-254-7442, tad.hutcheson@airtran.com, orJudy Graham-Weaver, +1-678-254-7448, judy.graham-weaver@airtran.com, both ofAirTran Airways
Web site: http://www.airtran.com/