Oranjestad – Aruba Airport Authority N.V (AAA) has received official word from AirTran Airways that the necessary paperwork with the US Department of Transportation (DOT) for non-stop direct service on a weekly basis from Hartsfiled-Jackson Atlanta International airport and Orlando International Airport to aruba has been filed.
AirTran will be utilizing B737-700 aircraft on both routes configured with 137 seats and expects to start service in December 2009 from Atlanta and February 2010 from Orlando. AirTran Airways’ mix of low fares and an affordable Business Class with excellent customer service and one of the world’s youngest all-Boeing fleets has continued to strike a chord with the public. In addition, AirTran is currently one of the most profitable airlines in the United States.
“AirTran Airways is thrilled to bring our unique high quality, high value service to the beautiful island of Aruba” said John Kirby, Senior Director of strategic planning for AirTran Airways. Our new service to Orlando, FL will provide Arubans their first non-stop service to one of the most popular destinations in the world, while our new non-stop Atlanta service provides connecting service to more than thirty destinations in the United States. Atlanta is currently serviced daily and twice daily during periods of high demand by Delta Airlines.
Additional service from AirTran will create new opportunities within the domestic US Market. Direct service to Orlando will not only offer opportunities for new markets to Aruba but will also offer an alternative for the Aruban population to one of the most popular US cities. With the expected new service from AirTran our air service partners from the United States will increase to eight of which American Airlines, USAirways, Continental Airlines, Delta Airlines and united Airlines are legacy carriers and Jetblue, Spirit and AirTran are our LowCost Carriers. In addition, our US gateways will be increased to thirteen, Atlanta, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago O’Hare, Newark, Fort Lauderdale, Washington Dullies, Huston, New York JFK, New York La Guardia, Miami, Orlando and Philadelphia.
Unprecedented high fuel prices during the summer of 2008, the financial crisis which resulted in the worse economic recession and the sharp decreases in demand for travel, make the announcement of new service during these times fantastic. AAA’s policy of air service maintenance and diversification of the route network, are its core principles and continue to have successful results. This is illustrated by a positive passenger growth figure for July 2009 of 4.5% and further complimented by this additional and new service announcement.
Meetings during such events as Network and AAA’s hosting of Network Latin America 2008 here in Aruba have definitely contributed to AirTran’s decision to file for service to Aruba. “Welcome AirTran, welcome home!” said Peter Steinmetz, Managing Director AAA N.V. “ Addition of service during these very difficult times is simply fantastic and our team is committed to ensure the success of both additional service from Atlanta and new service from Orlando.
However, we believe that the local market will definitely contribute to the success of the Orlando service. We look forward to the inaugural flight in December.
