AirTran flights begin Friday, June 12
Thursday June 11, 2009
AirTran Airways flights from Knoxville, TN to Orlando, FL....
AirTran Airways is returning to Knoxville McGhee Tyson Airport with flights beginning on Friday, June 12 to its hub in Orlando, Fla.
Danni Varlan, president of East Tennesseans For Airfare Competition, is very pleased that low-fare carrier AirTran returned after a nine-year absence. She considers AirTran as a complement to Allegiant Air, not competition, with the discount duo forcing down fares of other McGhee Tyson carriers such as Delta, United, American, US Airways and Continental.
"From an economic development standpoint, it (lower fares) is crucial. Air fares affect everybody," she said. "AirTran is a good airline. They've done well and they've made money. We've waited a long time for this."
But Varlan is looking beyond Orlando. She sees a good response to Orlando as just the ticket for AirTran flights to Atlanta, which could affect a greater number of East Tennessee travelers seeking affordable flights to locations like New York, Washington, D.C., Chicago, Denver, Dallas/Fort Worth, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Phoenix and Minneapolis/St. Paul.
Source: Knoxville News Sentinel
