Southwest Airlines has phased out the AirTran Airways brand, more than three years after closing on the acquisition of the airline.
AirTran operated its last flight on 28 December, with service from Atlanta to Tampa on a Boeing 717. The route was operated as AirTran's first commercial flight in October 1993. AirTran's final flight marks the final step in the integration between Southwest and AirTran, which had been planned to take place by end-2014.
"With this special flight, we are celebrating history and setting our sights on a bright future for all of Southwest Airlines," says Bob Jordan, Southwest chief commercial officer and AirTran president.
Southwest first announced plans to acquire AirTran in September 2010, and closed on the deal in May 2011. The acquisition allowed Southwest to grow into key markets that it did not previously serve, such as Atlanta and Washington National airport. It also gave Southwest its first international destinations.
AirTran had operated 717s and Boeing 737s before the acquisition. Southwest subsequently decided to sublease all of AirTran's 88 717s to Delta Air Lines.
Source: Cirium Dashboard
