AirTran Airways Hires 1,000th Pilot
Chicago Resident Vick Rhoden Will Serve as First Officer on Boeing
717
ORLANDO, Fla., Dec. 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- AirTran Airways, a
subsidiary of AirTran Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: AAI), today announced that
the
airline has hired its 1,000th pilot, a first in the history of the
growing
company. Keith "Vick" Rhoden, 36, is the 1,000th pilot hired by
AirTran
Airways. The 14-year military and commercial aviation pilot from
Chicago,
Ill., will begin his AirTran Airways' career by serving as a first
officer on
the Boeing 717 aircraft.
The employment milestone for the successful low-fare airline can be
attributed to a successful business model with steady increases in
aircraft
fleet numbers and destinations served. In 2004, AirTran Airways
brought eight
new Boeing 737s and six new Boeing 717s into service, introduced more
than 18
new nonstop routes and set company records for monthly traffic and
bookings.
In 2005, the airline will take delivery of 19 new Boeing aircraft.
"By setting sustainable goals, AirTran Airways has continued to
succeed
and excel in the commercial airline business environment," commented
Joe
Leonard, AirTran Airways chairman and chief executive officer. "The
hiring of
our 1,000th pilot is another substantial benchmark for our growing
company.
Very few airlines can claim this milestone. Under our current growth
projections, we expect to hire our 2,000th pilot in only four years
from now."
AirTran Airways now employees over 6,000 Crew Members nationwide
and
expects this number to increase in the near future for a number of
reasons:
* The airline will begin service to and from Sarasota Bradenton
International Airport on December 17.
* AirTran Airways recently announced that it will be adding seven
new
nonstop flights to Florida destinations from Chicago Midway in
January.
* Service expansions are pending in Chicago (Midway Airport),
Washington,
D.C. (Reagan National Airport) and New York (LaGuardia Airport)
as part
of an agreement with ATA Airlines.
AirTran Airways is one of America's largest low-fare airlines --
with
6,000 friendly, professional Crew Members and operating over 500
flights a day
to more than 40 destinations. The airline's hub is at
Hartsfield-Jackson
Atlanta International Airport, the world's busiest airport by passenger
volume, where it is the second largest carrier. AirTran Airways, a
subsidiary
of AirTran Holdings (NYSE: AAI), is the world's largest operator of the
Boeing
717 and has America's youngest all-Boeing fleet which includes the new
Boeing
737-700 aircraft. For reservations or more information, visit
http://www.airtran.com (America Online Keyword: AirTran).
Media Contact: Tad Hutcheson
678.254.7442
[email protected]
Chicago Resident Vick Rhoden Will Serve as First Officer on Boeing
717
ORLANDO, Fla., Dec. 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- AirTran Airways, a
subsidiary of AirTran Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: AAI), today announced that
the
airline has hired its 1,000th pilot, a first in the history of the
growing
company. Keith "Vick" Rhoden, 36, is the 1,000th pilot hired by
AirTran
Airways. The 14-year military and commercial aviation pilot from
Chicago,
Ill., will begin his AirTran Airways' career by serving as a first
officer on
the Boeing 717 aircraft.
The employment milestone for the successful low-fare airline can be
attributed to a successful business model with steady increases in
aircraft
fleet numbers and destinations served. In 2004, AirTran Airways
brought eight
new Boeing 737s and six new Boeing 717s into service, introduced more
than 18
new nonstop routes and set company records for monthly traffic and
bookings.
In 2005, the airline will take delivery of 19 new Boeing aircraft.
"By setting sustainable goals, AirTran Airways has continued to
succeed
and excel in the commercial airline business environment," commented
Joe
Leonard, AirTran Airways chairman and chief executive officer. "The
hiring of
our 1,000th pilot is another substantial benchmark for our growing
company.
Very few airlines can claim this milestone. Under our current growth
projections, we expect to hire our 2,000th pilot in only four years
from now."
AirTran Airways now employees over 6,000 Crew Members nationwide
and
expects this number to increase in the near future for a number of
reasons:
* The airline will begin service to and from Sarasota Bradenton
International Airport on December 17.
* AirTran Airways recently announced that it will be adding seven
new
nonstop flights to Florida destinations from Chicago Midway in
January.
* Service expansions are pending in Chicago (Midway Airport),
Washington,
D.C. (Reagan National Airport) and New York (LaGuardia Airport)
as part
of an agreement with ATA Airlines.
AirTran Airways is one of America's largest low-fare airlines --
with
6,000 friendly, professional Crew Members and operating over 500
flights a day
to more than 40 destinations. The airline's hub is at
Hartsfield-Jackson
Atlanta International Airport, the world's busiest airport by passenger
volume, where it is the second largest carrier. AirTran Airways, a
subsidiary
of AirTran Holdings (NYSE: AAI), is the world's largest operator of the
Boeing
717 and has America's youngest all-Boeing fleet which includes the new
Boeing
737-700 aircraft. For reservations or more information, visit
http://www.airtran.com (America Online Keyword: AirTran).
Media Contact: Tad Hutcheson
678.254.7442
[email protected]
