AirTran JetConnect

AirTran JetConnect was the brand for AirTran Airways former regional airline service, which flew regional jet aircraft from AirTran's hub in Atlanta. Service was to short-haul markets where AirTran felt their Boeing 717 or Airbus A320 (with the latter type being operated by Ryan International for AirTran via contract) mainline jet aircraft were too large to economically operate.

AirTran JetConnect
IATA ICAO Callsign
FL TRS Citrus
FoundedSeptember 26, 2002 (as Air Wisconsin)
Commenced operationsNovember 15, 2002
Ceased operationsAugust 2004
Hubs
  • Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
  • Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport
  • General Mitchell International Airport (Milwaukee)
Focus cities
Fleet size26
Destinations18
Parent companyAirTran Holdings NYSE: AAI
HeadquartersAppleton, Wisconsin
Key peopleBob Fornaro
(Chairman, President and CEO)

The JetConnect service was provided by regional carrier Air Wisconsin, which operated ten Canadair Regional Jet (CRJ) twin jets painted in full banner carrier AirTran livery with the subtle title branding Jet Connect added next to the AirTran Livery.[1]

The last regional jet flight operated in August 2004.

History

The agreement was officially announced on September 26, 2002,[2] with service beginning on November 15, 2002.[3] Initially, JetConnect flew to Greensboro, Pensacola, and Savannah, later expanding to a total of 18 cities across the eastern United States.

On March 5, 2004, AirTran announced that it would be ending its JetConnect service. The airline performed an economic analysis and determined it could operate the Boeing 717 more efficiently than the Canadair regional jets in short-haul markets.[4] During the phasing-out process, Air Wisconsin returned all of its regional jets to the United Express fleet, repainting them in United Express livery. All aircraft were subsequently repainted in US Airways colors as Air Wisconsin then began operating entirely under the US Airways Express banner. US Airways then merged with American Airlines which resulted in Air Wisconsin currently operating as an American Eagle regional air carrier.

AirTran would again launch regional service from its then-hub in Milwaukee in December 2009 operated by SkyWest Airlines, but was not branded in the same way as the earlier service.[5][6] Aircraft retained a generic SkyWest livery, and the operation was discontinued in September 2011.[7]

Destinations

United States
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References
  1. Picture of the Canadair CL-600-2B19 Regional Jet CRJ-200LR aircraft
  2. "AirTran Airways Announces New JetConnect Product; New Regional Jet Service Launches November 15th". AirTran Airways. Business Wire. 2002-09-26. Archived from the original on 2012-07-14.
  3. "AirTran JetConnect Launches Inaugural Flight; New Regional Jet Service Begins Today". AirTran Airways. PR Newswire. 2002-11-15. Archived from the original on 2012-03-14.
  4. "AirTran Airways Returns to All Full-Size Boeing Jets with Business Class". Business Wire. 2004-03-15. Archived from the original on 2012-09-05.
  5. http://pressroom.airtran.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=201565&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1350983&highlight
  6. http://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/AirTran-and-SkyWest-form-partnership-in-Milwaukee
  7. http://www.dallasnews.com/business/airlines/2011/06/13/southwest-to-end-airtrans-code
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