page_title: AirTran Airways
section_title: 2000s
hierarchical_section_title: AirTran Airways / History / 2000s
caption_attribution_description: Airtran Boeing 717 at Savannah Hilton Head Int.
context_page_description: AirTran Airways was an American low-cost airline that was originally headquartered in Orlando, Florida and ceased operation following its acquisition by Southwest Airlines.
  AirTran Airways was established in 1993 as Conquest Sun Airlines by the management of two small airlines: Destination Sun Airways and Conquest Airlines, with Conquest Airlines co-founder Victor Rivas being heavily involved in the establishment of Conquest Sun. The airline was purchased by the AirTran Corporation in 1994 and was renamed to AirTran Airways, the airline was later spun off under the new Airways Corporation holding company by the AirTran Corporation.
  The airline and the Airways Corporation holding company was purchased in 1997 by the ValuJet holding company which owned the struggling ValuJet Airlines. The ValuJet holding company became known as AirTran Holdings and merged ValuJet Airlines into AirTran Airways. ValuJet Airlines was renamed "AirTran Airlines" before it was merged into AirTran Airways.
  AirTran Airways and parent AirTran Holdings were acquired by Southwest Airlines on May 2, 2011, and gradually integrated with the final revenue flight operating on December 28, 2014.
context_section_description: AirTran reported a $30 million operating profit for 1999.
  On August 15, 2001, the company's stock began trading under the ticker symbol AAI on the New York Stock Exchange.
  In 2002, AirTran created a regional brand, AirTran JetConnect, operated by Air Wisconsin.
  In 2003, following an order for 100 Boeing 737-700 aircraft, AirTran began service to Washington, D.C.'s Reagan National Airport and to San Francisco.
  On January 5, 2004, AirTran's last McDonnell Douglas DC-9-30 was retired, leaving it with a fleet of more than 70 Boeing 717-200s. Shortly after, the first Boeing 737-700 entered AirTran's fleet in June 2004.
  In August 2004, AirTran JetConnect (operated by Air Wisconsin) ceased all operations.
  On May 23, 2006, AirTran accepted one of the last two Boeing 717s delivered in a ceremony with Midwest Airlines, who accepted the other 717. Boeing closed the 717 line due to poor sales.
  In November 2007, Robert L. Fornaro took over as CEO, as well as President. Joe Leonard remained Chairman of the Board of Directors until June 2008. Upon his retirement, Fornaro then became Chairman making him Chairman, President and CEO.
  In 2009, AirTran was the first major airline to have 100% of its fleet outfitted with Gogo Inflight Internet, although other airlines had begun adding Internet before AirTran.
  By 2009 AirTran underwent major expansion in smaller cities such as Yeager Airport (Charleston, W.V.); Asheville Regional Airport, N.C.; and Harrisburg International Airport, Pa.
caption: AirTran received the last Boeing 717 built in 2006
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