AirTran Holdings, Inc.,the parent company of AirTran Airways, Inc., today reported a net profit of $36.3 million forr the third quarter of 2010. During the quarter, the Company reported operating income of $56.7 million. AirTran Holdings Inc. will also boost seating capacity next year 3 percent to 4 percent as the carrier adds six new aircraft to its fleet, Chief Executive Officer Bob Fornaro said.
AirTran, based in Orlando, Florida, has the financing in place for the two Boeing Co. 717s and four 737-700s it plans to add in 2011, Fornaro said in a telephone interview today.
"Each of our more than 8,500 AirTran Airways Crew Members played an important role in the summer operation of our airline. The continued improvement in our operational and solid financial performance is a testament to the can-do spirit and determination of our Crew Members," said Bob Fornaro, AirTran Airways' chairman, president and chief executive officer. "To post these outstanding operational metrics during such a peak travel period is a clear indication of our ability to provide an extremely high-quality product."
During the third quarter, AirTran Holdings, Inc., entered into a definitive merger agreement to be acquired by Southwest Airlines. Completion of the transaction, which will require both regulatory and shareholder approvals, is expected to close by the first half of 2011. Commercial and operational integration is slated to culminate in 2012, with both carriers operating under Southwest Airlines' Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) operating certificate in Dallas.
