AirTran Airways today announced it has
received approval from the United States Department of Transportation to begin
service to Cancun International Airport.  AirTran Airways’ nonstop flights to
Cancun will start December 15, 2005, with service from both Hartsfield-Jackson
Atlanta International Airport and Tampa International Airport.  Schedules and
fares for the new service will be announced next month. The low-fare carrier
hopes to soon receive approval for the addition of a Cancun route from Orlando
International Airport.“We appreciate that the U.S. Department of Transportation has found this
application for new service to be consistent with Department policy and the
public interest,” Kevin Healy, AirTran Airways’ vice president of planning.
“We look forward to working with Aeropuertos Del Sureste (ASUR) and the Cancun
International Airport for a successful launch of service in December.”
  AirTran Airways will offer the first low fare scheduled service to Cancun
from Atlanta and Tampa.  The airline currently provides more than 200 flights
a day to 46 destinations from its hub at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta
International Airport, and this new service will introduce low fares to a
number of markets and stimulate new demand between the United States and
Cancun.
  AirTran Airways will utilize its growing fleet of fuel-efficient Boeing
737 aircraft to serve this new international route.  Since taking delivery of
its first 737 in summer of 2004, AirTran Airways has been working on growing
its route map with international and westward expansion.  Cancun will be the
airline’s second international destination (behind Grand Bahamas Island) and
bring its network total to 48 destinations.
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