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January 8, 2007
Michelle Coats, APR
Community Information SpecialistDaytona Beach International Airport welcomes Airtran Airways; Celebrates first customer appreciation month
AirTran Airways will launch new jet service from Daytona Beach International Airport to Atlanta beginning January 11 adding nonstop Baltimore service beginning February 15. A ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held January 11 at 10 a.m. at Daytona Beach International Airport, in front of the AirTran Airways ticket counter to celebrate this milestone event. The public is welcome.
“This is very significant,” said County Chair Frank Bruno. “AirTran Airways is such a good fit for our airport. We look forward to a long and successful partnership with them. ”
The airport is celebrating its first customer appreciation month with a multitude of convenience offers for airport customers. Customer appreciation comes in the form of free parking coupons, a free soft drink with the purchase of any sandwich offer, and free shoeshine services and other service amenities will begin in January and run throughout 2007.
“We appreciate our customers’ patronage all year long, and we wanted to make that statement loud and clear, as early as possible in 2007,” said Stephen Cooke, Director of Business Development at DBIA. “Passengers trust in the quality of airport services, and we want to express our appreciation to the traveling public who has made the smart choice to fly Daytona first. We also appreciate the dedication of our airline partners to help us improve year after year.”
AirTran Airways will begin service with three daily roundtrip flights to Atlanta on January 11. The schedule will increase February 15 to four daily roundtrip flights to Atlanta and a daily nonstop roundtrip flight to Baltimore/Washington. Although announced as seasonal service, officials have said that could change based on passenger demand. DBIA passengers will enjoy connecting service to more than 40 cities from AirTran Airways’ Atlanta hub where the carrier has 241 daily departures.
Headquartered in Orlando, AirTran Airways is one of the country’s largest low-fare airlines and serves 52 U.S. cities with a fleet of 121 jets including 87 Boeing 717s and 40 Boeing 737-700s. AirTran Airways has the newest fleet of Boeing aircraft in America, Cooke said. The Boeing 717 is configured for 117 seats – 105 in coach class and 12 in business class. The Boeing 737-700 is configured for 137 seats – 125 in coach and 12 in business class. Its service includes free XM Satellite radio, spacious overhead bins and assigned seating. Its frequent flyer program is called A+ Rewards.
“This is tremendous news for the entire region,” said Dennis McGee, DBIA’s Director of Aviation. “With their low-cost fare structure I know they will be very successful in our market.” He noted AirTran Airways is the first major low-fare carrier at Daytona Beach International Airport. “AirTran Airways service will offer many new travel options and will address a persistent problem of local residents driving long distances to other airports for lower fares.”
Beginning January 11, the first arrival to Daytona Beach International Airport at 11 a.m. will be greeted with a water salute from Volusia County Fire Services Station 17. The Volusia County Council, members of the media, and community leaders will be on hand to greet the first flight and celebrate the new low fare service.
McGee said the new service is the result of ongoing work, cooperation and mutual support between Volusia County/Daytona Beach International Airport and Volusia’s three tourism advertising authorities. An extensive marketing program, in partnership with AirTran Airways, the county and the advertising authorities is under way to inform the public of the new air service, encourage inbound tourism and promote increased use of Daytona Beach International Airport throughout the region and originating AirTran Airways cities.
AirTran Airways operates 700 daily flights within its system of serving 52 cities. The airline has 241 daily flights from its Atlanta hub which offers numerous flight connections and options.
A subsidiary of AirTran Airways Holdings, the carrier is one of America’s largest low-fare airlines. It has 8,000 employees. For more information on AirTran Airways go to
www.airtran.com.For additional information, please contact Stephen J. Cooke, Director of Business Development at Daytona Beach International Airport, at 386/248-8030, x8309.
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