Airport News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 4, 2007   

 

Media Contacts:  

 

Tad Hutcheson

tad.hutcheson@airtran.com

 678.254.7442

  

     Judy Graham-Weaver     judy.grahamweaver@airtran.com

     678.254.7448

 

 

AirTran Airways Offers Flights for Return of RARE Teal Flamingos

- Airline Releases 3,000 Flamingos to Celebrate New Service to Ft. Lauderdale, but Needs Four Back -

 

ORLANDO, Fla., (January 4, 2007) – AirTran Airways, a subsidiary of AirTran Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: AAI), today announced new nonstop flights from Akron-Canton Airport to Ft. Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and unveiled a flock of pink flamingos, scattered throughout the Ohio cities of Cleveland, Akron and Canton.  Four strategically placed grand-prize teal flamingos, who answer to the names Sandy, Shelly, Sunny and Shiny, will win each of their lucky finders a set of tickets on AirTran Airways.

AirTran Airways and Akron-Canton Airport will pepper Northeast Ohio with 3,000 pink plastic yard flamingos – along with four teal misfits – as a tribute to the airline's nonstop routes between Akron-Canton and Ft. Lauderdale, Ft. Myers, Tampa and Orlando.  Snowbirds can do some online "bird watching" at airtran.com/flamingos for clues to the location of the four flighty teal featherheads.  The clues will be the key to winning a pair of roundtrip tickets on AirTran Airways.

"We are tickled pink to announce the expansion of our route map to include direct flights from Akron-Canton to various destinations in the Sunshine State," said Tad Hutcheson, AirTran Airways' vice president of marketing and sales.  "Now vacationers looking to trade their ski jackets for swimsuits can flock to Florida in comfort while enjoying AirTran Airways' Business Class seating, free XM Satellite Radio and the nation's youngest all-Boeing fleet."

Eagle-eyed Ohioans should be on the lookout for the four wayward flamingos between January 4 and January 12, 2007, when the contest ends (visit airtran.com for contest rules).  Jet-setters may have to go out on a limb in their flamingo search, but AirTran Airways A+ Rewards members can log on to airtran.com/flamingos and receive clues as to the whereabouts of the teal flamingos every day.  Who knew bird-watching could be so much fun?

  

            The following nonstop flights will be available between Akron-Canton Airport and Ft. Lauderdale Airport, effective January 4, 2007:

 

Nonstop Service Between Akron-Canton and Ft. Lauderdale











From



To



Flight



Departs



Arrives



Frequency





Akron-Canton



Ft. Lauderdale



503



7:50 a.m.



10:40 a.m.



Daily





Ft. Lauderdale



Akron-Canton



504



5:59 p.m.



8:49 p.m.



Daily

 

 

About AirTran Airways:

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 airtran.com (America Online Keyword: AirTran).

 

About Akron-Canton Airport:

Akron-Canton Airport opened its new, spacious, four-gate passenger concourse, from which AirTran Airways operates its big jet flights, in early May.  The concourse is the centerpiece of the airport's $60 million, five-year STAR expansion project.  Other elements of STAR included longer runways, a new baggage claim wing, additional car parking and a food court with national brands.  According to the U.S. Department of Transportation's fourth-quarter Domestic Airline Fares Consumer Report, CAK ranked as the sixth-least-expensive airport in the United States.  Additional information, including flight reservations, directions, real-time arrivals and departures, and a blog port is available at www.akroncantonairport.com, CAK's new web portal.  Akron-Canton Airport, a better way to go®.