Staff Report
Published Oct. 21, 2009
The parent company of AirTran Airways, the low-cost carrier that has said it will pull out of Charleston on Dec. 3, today announced $10.4 million in third-quarter earnings.
That represents a $105 million turnaround from the third quarter of 2008, when the company reported $94.6 million in losses.
Orlando-based AirTran Holdings Inc. has been profitable every quarter so far this year, with year-to-date earnings totaling $117.6 million.
Related story
AirTran leaving Charleston in December
The airline said during the third quarter it has expanded its service in Atlanta, Baltimore, Milwaukee and Orlando.
AirTran announced earlier this month it would end its four daily flights from Charleston to Atlanta as of Dec. 3. A spokesman said the flights had good passenger numbers overall but did not include enough business travelers.
Business travelers typically pay higher rates than leisure travelers, who can book farther in advance and take advantage of special fares.
See the Oct. 26 issue of the Charleston Regional Business Journal for more on the impact of AirTran’s decision to leave Charleston.
