AirTran Airways Tops Airline Quality Rating Again!

ORLANDO, Fla., April 4, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- AirTran Airways, a subsidiary of AirTran Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: AAI), announced today that the highly regarded Airline Quality Rating (AQR) has once again selected the carrier as the top ranked airline.

The AQR study was developed in 1991 as an objective method for assessing airline quality. It is conducted jointly by Dr. Dean Headley, professor at Wichita State University and Dr. Brent Bowen, professor at Purdue University. AirTran Airways ranked first overall in 2008 and has been the number one low-cost carrier for four consecutive years.    

"Being rated the top airline in the AQR is a reflection of our 8,300 Crew Members' daily dedication to our customers," said Bob Fornaro, chairman, president and CEO of AirTran Airways. "It is particularly rewarding this year as we continue to prepare to join Southwest Airlines, pending regulatory approval, later this year. There can be no better validation of our Crew Members' focus on maintaining one of the best airlines in the industry than this honor."

The AQR reports that AirTran Airways maintained its industry leading mishandled baggage rate, dropping to an industry best 1.63 per 1,000 passengers in 2010 (from 1.67 per 1,000 passengers in 2009). The Airline Quality Rating 2011 reflects monthly scores for the calendar year 2010 and is based on four major areas: on-time performance, denied boardings, mishandled baggage and customer complaints.

The airline has enjoyed several accolades in the past year in addition to the AQR, including being named top airline in The Wall Street Journal's annual airline scorecard, receiving the Market Leadership Award from leading industry publication Air Transport World and being selected best value airline by SmarterTravel.

AirTran Airways is a Fortune 1000 company and has been ranked the top airline in the Airline Quality Rating study twice in the past four years.  AirTran is the only major airline with Gogo Inflight Internet on every flight and offers coast-to-coast service on North America's newest all-Boeing fleet. Our low-cost, high-quality product also includes assigned seating, Business Class and complimentary XM Satellite Radio on every flight. To book a flight, visit airtran.com.

SOURCE AirTran Airways