Airtran Airlines To Start Serving WC Airport

[x635 4,066]

A discount airline for WC airport, but not jetBlue :-(

AirTran to start Westchester airport service

By JAY LOOMIS

THE JOURNAL NEWS

(Original publication: January 23, 2006)

AirTran Airways, an Orlando-based discount carrier, announced today that it will soon begin service at Westchester County Airport. The daily nonstop service will link Westchester to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Orlando International Airport and West Palm Beach International Airport. Through those cities, travelers can connect to more than 45 destinations nationwide.

[WAS967 97]

Just so you guys know, AirTran is the new name of the company that had the plane go down in the everglades. I forget the original name and don't care to look it up. I'll stick with JetBlue, thanks.

[x635 4,066]

Airtran used to be called "Valujet" I too am skeptical of their safety record.

I believe Airtran is taking the gate spaces vacated by Independence Air/flyI when they ceased operations. It's also interesting to note that all routes from HPN will be served by the newly reintroduced, fuel efficient Boeing 717, "one of the quietest, technically-advanced twinjets in the sky", with 12 Business Class and 105 coach seats. The airliners are brand-new to Airtran, and feature XM Satellite Radio at every seat. It's important to note that AirTran is a LCC (Low Cost Carrier), otherwise known as a discount airline.

I would have loved to see some jetBlue flights out of HPN. It would have been a goldmine for them, and quite a treat for me!

They could have flown HPN-BOS, HPN-IAD, HPN-FLL, HPN-BUR, and HPN-FLL.

I know at one time B6 (jetBlue) wanted in, but WC politics turned them away from what I hear. I can still hope for Stewart, at least.

[Guest Moose131]

It's too bad that Independence Air went out of business. Whereas I did hate the fact that every flight had a stopover I found all of the staff to be extremely pleasant. One time a friend of mine was flying out of Westchester, the incoming flight was delayed and it being the last flight of the night she would not be able to make her connection to Florida. Independence hired a taxi to take her to one of the New York airports at no charge so she could catch a flight from there and make her connection. This type of thing is unheard of by the majors. Independence really seemed to get it right, but in the end hey just didn't have the passengers to stay in the black. It is really too bad, cheep flights without having to go into the city? I am really going to miss the service, hopefully Airtran will offer the same thing.