Goodbye, AirTran

727LOVER · Mon Dec 22, 2014 7:50 pm

This week we say goodbye to a great little, fun, spunky airline. They had the odds stacked against them, big time....shut down during a revenue windfall moment ( '96 ATL Olympics)
But they persevered and won the hearts of many....including mine.

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Photo © Thomas Williges

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Photo © Thomas Williges

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Photo © Michael F. McLaughlin

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Photo © Remi Dallot

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Photo © Gregg Stansbery

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Photo © Javier Rodriguez - Iberian Spotters

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Photo © Propwash Photography

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Photo © Josh Akbar - PHX Spotters

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Photo © Michael Van Bosch

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Photo © John E. Jauchler - New England Airports

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Photo © Marcel Hohl

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Photo © Gordon Gebert Jr

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Photo © Cornelis Boersma

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Photo © Eric Brown

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Photo © Ozell Stephens Jr

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Photo © John Magero

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Photo © Carsten Sekula

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Photo © Jason Whitebird

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Photo © Hector Rivera - Puerto Rico Spotter

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Photo © Vasco Garcia

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Photo © Orlando Suárez - SVZM Aero

Special schemes:

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Photo © Michael Carter

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Photo © John Padgett

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Photo © Andreas Fietz

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Photo © Agustin Anaya

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Photo © Ozell Stephens Jr

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Photo © John E. Jauchler - New England Airports

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Photo © Rainer Bexten

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Photo © Luis David Sanchez

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Photo © Joshua McGoun

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Photo © Propwash Photography

RL757PVD · Mon Dec 22, 2014 7:54 pm

Dear Senator Schumer, regarding your inquiry as to why airfares are not decreasing with oil, please see above...

SLCSFOPDX · Mon Dec 22, 2014 7:59 pm

Great airline, AirTran was. I was and still am extremely disappointed that they ended up with WN. I can't think of a worse partner than WN. I was hoping a few years a go that AirTran and AS would merge. That would've given AS a huge presence in the Midwest and East and South. Probably could have kept the AirTran name...

[Edited 2014-12-22 12:00:39]

lpdal · Mon Dec 22, 2014 8:03 pm

As roughly 1/4 of these pictures were taken in FLL, this brought back some major feels....

I already had one FLL-ATL flight in March, and on Sunday, I'll have my last two FL flights forever.

The tickets cost a royal arm and a leg, but for the last flights on AirTran, they were worth it.

Bye, sweet girl....

-LPDAL

SocalApproach · Mon Dec 22, 2014 9:11 pm

No Airbus shots?

I had only flown AirTran once in my life. Flew SEA-MKE-LGA. I had a great trip with them. I ended up flying US back which was murder. Their cost must have been incredibly low with them flying 737-700s on transcons while everyone else is flying 738/A320/757. It didnt seem there were alot of seats on their 737s especially with the first class but at the same time they were not expensive to fly on either! And correct me if i am wrong but did they partner with anyone? Being based in ATL they seemed to find their own little niche to co exist with DL in a fortress hub.

lpdal · Mon Dec 22, 2014 9:18 pm

Quoting SocalApproach (Reply 4):
No Airbus shots?

Here, I'll add some

:

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Photo © Adam Wright

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Photo © Michael Arcellana

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Photo © David James Clelford [Airplane-Pictures]

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Photo © Paul Robbins - Nashville Aviation Photographers

What's the backstory re: Ryan International Airlines (not to be confused with FR) flying A320s for FL? Were they low on capacity or something? Was the cabin layout the same?

-LPDAL

iowaman · Mon Dec 22, 2014 9:27 pm

Only flew FL once STL-ATL-BUF in 2008. Sad to see them go - but at least the 737's will still be put to use with Southwest and taken care of. It is also nice to see the 717's staying with DL instead of going to retirement or another airline overseas.

JetBlueCLT · Mon Dec 22, 2014 9:41 pm

The big A will always have a special place in my heart. They were my childhood airline from 1998-2013. Remember flying on one of there DC-9-30s when I was 3 or 4 and my love for them took flight. From stepping onto the 717 and always sitting exclusively at seat 26A the 717 easily became my favorite aircraft. From my many encounters of flying them, AirTran always had the friendliest pilots and flight attendants. They were one of the reasons I was able to fly as much I could with there affordable prices.

Over the last decade and half I'm so blessed to have done so much with that airline at a young age. Flew there DC9s, 717(sooooo many times) 737,winglet and non Atlanta Falcons Logojet, "Orlando makes me smile" decal.

Just glad ive always had a liking of jetBlue since they started service in CLT, honestly wouldn't know what airline I could join after citrus went to southwest......

R.I.P AirTran Airways, thanks for all the good memories.

jetblue1965 · Mon Dec 22, 2014 9:48 pm

AirTran has a special place in mine too ... I rarely flew them, but it was the carrier I flew on my first trip with my fiancee (last minute trip to MCO)

still remember that ATL transfer vividly. now WN is completely imploding their ATL market share as we speak.

JetBlueCLT · Mon Dec 22, 2014 9:49 pm

Quoting LPDAL (Reply 5):

The backstory to the A320s from my knowledge is when JetBlue started service to ATL from OAK and LGB. AirTran got them to repel jetBlue away and to jump on a few west coast flights before there 737-700s came into play.

Let's not forget about AirTran Jet Connect and there CRJ200s operated by Air Wisconsin.

[Edited 2014-12-22 13:54:06]

[Edited 2014-12-22 13:56:36]

AST1Driver · Mon Dec 22, 2014 9:50 pm

Quoting LPDAL (Reply 5):
What's the backstory re: Ryan International Airlines (not to be confused with FR) flying A320s for FL? Were they low on capacity or something? Was the cabin layout the same?

At the time Airtran only had DC-9s, 717s and 737-2s in their fleet. They contracted with Ryan to cover their first flights to LAX and LAS while waiting on delivery of the 737-7.

wnflyguy · Mon Dec 22, 2014 9:54 pm

Good bye FL/Airtran
I'm happy WN ended up buying NOT merger with you instead of Frontier.
While I think because of WN technology SNFU and short comings missed a lot revenue gains and markets. Especially out of ATL.
I'm glad 94% of the FL employees have found a job and a fun LUV ing home at WN.
Flyguy

AWACSooner · Mon Dec 22, 2014 10:10 pm

Quoting wnflyguy (Reply 11):
I'm glad 94% of the FL employees have found a job and a fun LUV ing home at WN.

Shhh...don't tell this to the teeth-gnashers. All some folks want to do is make WN out to be an evil empire.

FL bailed me out BIG TIME when I had to high-tail it from DFW to NYC for my grandfather's funeral in '03...I thoroughly enjoyed every last flight I had with them...even the three I took last fall. I'll miss them, but I completely understand why they jumped into bed with WN. Yes, I wish WN would have left ATL more intact than they are doing right now...but there's a reason they're historically the best in the biz. And just like HP when they merged with US, I will look back in a few years and say "dammit, I REALLY miss FL." Godspeed AirTran...

mli717fan · Mon Dec 22, 2014 10:20 pm

Great post to a great airline! They flew me on many great trips and I'm sad to see them go. I remember my first flight with them MLI-DSM-MCO on a 732, and many many more after that. Thanks for the memories!

BravoEchoNov · Mon Dec 22, 2014 10:55 pm

Have my last two flights with them on the 28th but not the very last flight :/. Growing up in Atlanta, AirTran holds a special place in my heart. I really will miss them. Today I even went to the airport to plane spot and focused solely on Citrus as a special way of saying goodbye.

stratosphere · Mon Dec 22, 2014 11:03 pm

Count me among the people disappointed that WN took away AirTran I do not like the cattle car seating and no biz /first class of WN. Upgrades on AirTran were quite reasonable I virtually always flew in biz class. Just like anything in life I have found out all good things eventually come to an end. Sad

krod031 · Mon Dec 22, 2014 11:28 pm

I feel the need to share some pictures i took. I truly am going to miss the little "a"

airliner371 · Mon Dec 22, 2014 11:50 pm

Great airline with great crew members. My first AirTran flight is the reason I got into aviation so they hold a special place in my heart. Sad to see them go but excited to see the new Southwest Airlines.

SunsetLimited · Tue Dec 23, 2014 12:12 am

I flew on a Ryan 320 in FL colors on an ATL-SFO rountrip. In a word...tight! Pitch might have been 29'. Very ratty cabin as well, from what I remember. The 320's served a purpose, though, until the 73G's came along.

747d10 · Tue Dec 23, 2014 12:17 am

WN5001 is scheduled to arrive TPA 11:55p.m. This is the final flight, correct? Is it a.k.a. FL1?
Will it be ferried back to ATL?
I'll be at TPA on the 29th, picking up family around noontime. I hope to get to see it....assuming it will be the only FL 717 at TPA.
The taxiways should still be wet from the water cannon salute, eh?

RWA380 · Tue Dec 23, 2014 12:17 am

Quoting RL757PVD (Reply 1):

Dear Senator Schumer, regarding your inquiry as to why airfares are not decreasing with oil, please see above..

Quoting SLCSFOPDX (Reply 2):
Probably could have kept the AirTran name...

I think that would have been an extremely difficult sell in the Emerald Tower, to say the very least, but we'll never know now. I'll give you that it would have made for an interesting looking route map, with reasonable fleet commonality.

Quoting SocalApproach (Reply 4):
Their cost must have been incredibly low with them flying 737-700s on transcons while everyone else is flying 738/A320/757

The per seat operating cost of the 738 is lower than the 73G, but the 73G was the right plane for Air Tran.

Quoting stratosphere (Reply 15):
Count me among the people disappointed that WN took away AirTran I do not like the cattle car seating and no biz /first class of WN. Upgrades on AirTran were quite reasonable I virtually always flew in biz class. Just like anything in life I have found out all good things eventually come to an end. Sad

Many of the same reasons those of us in the PNW love AS, I can feel your pain by putting AS in place of FL. I hope the end is not the same for us. Another great regional/national carrier lost to merger mania. No more, value your alternate carriers.

Quoting krod031 (Reply 16):

I feel the need to share some pictures i took. I truly am going to miss the little "a"

Very nice pics thanks for sharing them ... If there is any silver lining this is it, AirTran went out at the top of their game, not into a lingering slow decent, becoming a shoddy & disgusting airline, like other carriers we all know that have expired in the past.

MSPNWA · Tue Dec 23, 2014 12:57 am

I'm booked on the last flight, #1 to TPA. It will be nice to say good-bye to an airline. I will say though that I never fell in love with FL. Although I liked the smaller, regional airline feel, their product was too similar to everyone else. Nothing stood out in a big way.

superjeff · Tue Dec 23, 2014 1:03 am

Quoting LPDAL (Reply 5):
What's the backstory re: Ryan International Airlines (not to be confused with FR) flying A320s for FL? Were they low on capacity or something? Was the cabin layout the same?

When AirTran started ATL - LAX/SFO, they needed additional range as the 717's couldn't make the trip so they wet leased a couple of A320's from Ryan International (NOT Ryanair).

BN727227Ultra · Tue Dec 23, 2014 1:28 am

Flew FL twice.

2005, MCI-ATL-BUF and back. Five minute layover in ATL, thankfully adjoining gates.

2010, MCI-ATL and back. Wife and I, along with a friend of hers, all upgraded. I watched them drink Screwdrivers, giggling pretty good and half-asleep by the time we got on MARTA...

Funky little airline. Paint jobs looked like they were designed first, then applied to an aircraft as an afterthought--seemingly like an interior-design applied to aircraft.

I had been daytrading AAI stock, one Friday I missed my buy limit order by something like two pennies. Of course Monday morning LUV announced their offer. I could have retired by now!

Never have liked LUV. Never seen a paint job of theirs I've liked. Oh, well.

Hopefully AirTran's management wants to do this again once their non-compete expires. With the same paint, lol.

OzarkD9S · Tue Dec 23, 2014 1:28 am

Flew FL twice STL-ATL-RIC return and once STL-ATL-DCA return. Treated myself to Biz class on one of the flights, STL-ATL when they had some spare seats up front and were offering them for $50 I think. Had one kind of tight connection once, I think the DCA-ATL-STL trip. Deplaned at D, train to C. Had a quick tinkle and a smoke went to the gate as they announced pre-boarding. Always a nice ride. Loved the 717...and the old school radio selections. Stuck my headphones in and listened to the 70's or 80's stations.

Farewell FL....you will be missed.

lpdal · Tue Dec 23, 2014 1:34 am

Me too! Enjoy some of mine:

FLL

TPA

JAX

ATL

Enjoy!

-LPDAL

af773atmsp · Tue Dec 23, 2014 1:39 am

Flew FL once, MSP-ATL-NAS and vice versa in the spring of 2011. Great service, great crew, and a good fleet.

I was spotting at MSP a couple weeks ago and saw a FL 717 taxiing for departure. Thankfully I had my camera just in case its the last time I'll see the distinctive A of AirTran with my own eyes.

NWAROOSTER · Tue Dec 23, 2014 1:54 am

I wonder what Joe Leonard thinks of this. I worked for him at Northwest Airlines when he was there.

airliner371 · Tue Dec 23, 2014 2:02 am

I hope Southwest honors an aircraft after them, "AirTran One."

USAirALB · Tue Dec 23, 2014 2:37 am

One of the first flights I remember being on was an FL 732 flying ALB-MCO back in 1996. Have flown with them many times since, up and down the East coast but also to AUA. Always a great ride, with great crews and very clean and comfortable cabins.

FL was different to me for some reason. They had the fares of an LCC, but the experience was very legacy-ish.

Godspeed, AirTran, you will be dearly missed.

grain · Tue Dec 23, 2014 2:43 am

I doubt they will do anything like AirTran One. Just as all previous acquisitions we have made in the past, just another business transaction.

Also I had checked the flight schedule on 12/29 and it was about 131 flights. Can someone give a estimate on the number of seats FL was running around the time of acquisition and what WN will be running now.

KBUF · Tue Dec 23, 2014 2:54 am

Quoting airliner371 (Reply 28):
I hope Southwest honors an aircraft after them, "AirTran One."

Something like this wouldn't be a bad idea.

tom11 · Tue Dec 23, 2014 3:21 am

No AirTran JetConnect pictures??

iad2cdg · Tue Dec 23, 2014 3:33 am

I took advantage of ValuJet's X-fares on multiple occasions to fly home while in college and grad school. $70 round trip, even on stand-by, was much more appealing than 20 hours round trip in a car (and probably cheaper). It was always fun hanging around the gate with the other college kids trying to get home and I never once didn't make it.

I wasn't a fan of powering back from the gate though.

727LOVER · Tue Dec 23, 2014 4:33 am

Quoting SocalApproach (Reply 4):
No Airbus shots?

AirTran didn't operate Airbus...so that's why I didn't add those.

Quoting 747d10 (Reply 19):
The taxiways should still be wet from the water cannon salute, eh?

Ummmmm.....well....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0U2QBtkfG00

Since everyone is showing their pics, here is mine. Five 717s in one pic.

http://www.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=7846444&nseq=38

[Edited 2014-12-22 21:06:52]

[Edited 2014-12-22 21:10:07]

jreuschl · Tue Dec 23, 2014 6:06 am

I wonder what would have happened if FL would have successfully (over)paid for YX a number of years ago. Would FL have survived?

bjorn14 · Tue Dec 23, 2014 10:35 am

Quoting USAirALB (Reply 29):
They had the fares of an LCC, but the experience was very legacy-ish.

I had to make an unscheduled trip from MCO-MKE in 2010. I called the 'low fare leader' the night before and they wanted $486 o.w. and then I called FL and it was $137. Nice flight except for some drunk corporate types.

Never fell in love with FL but were always glad they were there to keep DL and others honest. Apparently WN doesn't want to be honest about their fares.

lugie · Tue Dec 23, 2014 12:27 pm

Quoting KBUF (Reply 31):

Something like this wouldn't be a bad idea.

looks really nice, I would love if they went realized such a plane. I always used to like US' tradition of painting logojets in the colors of merged carriers (PS, AW, AL etc)

United_fan · Tue Dec 23, 2014 12:35 pm

Quoting RL757PVD (Reply 1):
Dear Senator Schumer, regarding your inquiry as to why airfares are not decreasing with oil, please see above

I too miss Citrus. I miss their 717's and occasional 73G in ROC. I never did get the Georgia Aquarium scheme,here. As much as I like DL and WN,FL 's fares to BWI and ATL were way lower than what they want,now .

727LOVER · Tue Dec 23, 2014 2:27 pm

Are the remaining 717s all to be repainted @ MIA?

When the last rev flight arrives TPA on Sunday night, will it overnight, or will the crew just continue it to MIA that night? If MIA is where it is headed.

KarlB737 · Tue Dec 23, 2014 2:39 pm

Quoting SLCSFOPDX (Reply 2):
Great airline, AirTran was. I was and still am extremely disappointed that they ended up with WN.

Sorta like when they swallowed American Trans Air. How do the two transactions differ if they do?

vikkyvik · Tue Dec 23, 2014 2:51 pm

Quoting 727LOVER (Thread starter):
Special schemes:

Ahh, Airtran and the Elton John livery.

So many memories of a certain member and his most famous thread....

That aside, I flew Valujet once. Don't recall it being anything special. And I believe they had their major crash soon after. But hey, sucks when an airline disappears.

NolaMD88fan · Tue Dec 23, 2014 3:05 pm

Regularly flew FL out of MSY and GPT to either STL or BMI for family visits. It was a great option due to the low fares, good service from the flight crew, and satellite radio for listening pleasure.

N776AU · Tue Dec 23, 2014 3:21 pm

I still have more anger for Southwest than I can put in to words. Airtran was an airline with great people and great service, and good fares too. Cattle call boarding? No thanks. I'll stick to assigned seating with Delta. Their fares are better anyway. I guess I'm part of the reason Richard Anderson wants to give Gary Kelly a big kiss.

Thanks for nothing, Southwest.

jeffh747 · Tue Dec 23, 2014 3:34 pm

Farewell Citrus, and thank you. They were definitely the best airline I've ever flown on in terms of on time performance, cleanliness of the planes, and crew behavior. The crew was always really warm and welcoming, and their seats were among the most comfortable I sat on for such low prices. Their route network (for me at least) was extremely convenient and the onboard service was always perfect on all 12-15 flights I've taken with them in the past few years.

Thanks for the awesome memories, AirTran!

Cactus739 · Tue Dec 23, 2014 4:05 pm

I flew them once PHX-ATL-MSY and back in 2008. 737s were clean and seats very comfy. The 717s weren't impressive at all. Other than almost no service on any of the flights the only thing I remember about them was a flight attendant with a seriously bad power trip demanding my backpack go under the seat in front of me when most of the bins were empty and I was the last passenger to board. There were less than 50 people on the flight but I wasnt allowed any overhead space.

airliner371 · Tue Dec 23, 2014 5:06 pm

Quoting KBUF (Reply 31):

I highly doubt they do a whole AirTran livery, but a little "AirTran One" decal under the cockpit would be nice.

TZTriStar500 · Tue Dec 23, 2014 5:27 pm

Quoting KarlB737 (Reply 40):
Sorta like when they swallowed American Trans Air. How do the two transactions differ if they do?

This is a continual a.net fallacy that WN bought ATA. They are not similar to FL in any fashion. During ATA's first bankruptcy, WN purchased MDW assets and made a minority investment in the reorganized ATA only. They never owned or controlled ATA while it was operating. After the second bankruptcy and shut down of ATA, WN purchased the remaining corporate entity of ATA including the intellectual property rights solely to obtain the LGA and DCA slots held by ATA.

727LOVER · Tue Dec 23, 2014 5:30 pm

Quoting airliner371 (Reply 46):
I highly doubt they do a whole AirTran livery, but a little "AirTran One" decal under the cockpit would be nice.

Returning to the cities that FL dropped would be nice

JetBlueCLT · Tue Dec 23, 2014 5:31 pm

Quoting airliner371 (Reply 46):

Why not? The new AA did the same for US Airways. A normal A321 in the US colors with the new American title.

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