AirTran Airways, a subsidiary of AirTran Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:  AAI), today dispatched its first flight from its new, state-of-the-art System Operations Control Center (S.O.C.) in Orlando.

The new S.O.C. serves as the 24-hour command center for the entire airline. This brand new, 16,000 square foot facility will help streamline operations through increased use of technology, provide redundant, hurricane-resistant facilities while giving the low-cost leader room to continue to expand its operations. 

“This new S.O.C. demonstrates our continued commitment to our hometown of Orlando,” said Bob Fornaro, AirTran Airways’ chairman, president and chief executive officer. “As AirTran Airways continues to grow, this new facility is an important investment in our future and continues to position the airline as a leader in the industry.”

At 2 a.m. this morning AirTran Airways Crew Members serving on the overnight shift transitioned from the previous S.O.C., located within the airline’s headquarters building adjacent to the Orlando International Airport, for a final time and moved to the new center. AirTran Airways Flight 238 from Newport News, Va., to Boston was the inaugural flight to be dispatched from the new facility.

Dispatchers, aircraft routers, air traffic control network planners, maintenance operations controllers, passenger movement planners, flight followers, crew planners, crew schedulers and duty managers work side-by-side to ensure the airline is operating at peak efficiency for tens of thousands of passengers, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.