- Low Cost Carrier Improves in On-Time Performance and Mishandled Baggage -

ORLANDO, Fla., April 7, 2008 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- AirTran Airways, a subsidiary of AirTran Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: AAI), announced today that it has taken the top spot in the highly regarded annual Airline Quality Rating (AQR) study, developed in 1991 as an objective method for assessing airline quality. AirTran Airways, ranked third last year, was one of only four airlines to improve its AQR score between 2006 and 2007.

The AQR reports that AirTran Airways improved its on-time performance in 2007 to 76.8 percent, compared to 74.6 percent in 2006. The low cost carrier's denied boardings performance was the second lowest of the 16 airlines rated (0.15 per 10,000 passengers). In addition, the airline improved its mishandled baggage rate, dropping to 4.06 per 1,000 passengers in 2007 (from 4.72 per 1,000 passengers in 2006).

'AirTran Airways is pleased to have been recognized as the top airline in this year's AQR study,' said Bob Fornaro, president and CEO of AirTran Airways. 'We have distinguished ourselves as a high quality airline with friendly customer service and superior baggage handling, and the AQR recognizes our airline's outstanding performance in 2007.'

The Airline Quality Rating 2008 reflects monthly scores for the calendar year 2007 and is based on four major areas: on-time performance, denied boardings, mishandled baggage and customer complaints. Researchers at the University of Nebraska at Omaha Aviation Institute and the W. Frank Barton School of Business at Wichita State University conduct the study each year.

AirTran Airways, a Fortune 1000 company, offers more than 700 affordable, daily flights to 58 U.S. destinations. With 8,900 friendly Crew Members and America's youngest all-Boeing fleet, AirTran Airways provides XM Satellite Radio and Business Class seating on every flight. For more information and free online booking, visit http://www.airtran.com.

   Media Contacts:  AirTran Airways
                    Tad Hutcheson
                    Judy Graham-Weaver
                    Cynthia Tinsley-Douglas
                    Quinnie Jenkins
                    678.254.7442

SOURCE AirTran Airways

Source: PR Newswire (April 7, 2008 - 12:30 PM EDT)

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