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Talk of the bay

AirTran's proclamation flies in face of truth

By STEVE HUETTEL
Published February 7, 2005

AirTran Airways moved fast last week to fill a void in Indianapolis left by flight reductions by ATA Airlines. But the airline was a little too fast blowing its own horn about the new flights.

Headquartered in Indianapolis, ATA shocked its hometown Jan. 23 by announcing plans to slash flights there. The airline will end all flights at St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport - three a day to Indianapolis and two to Chicago - effective April 10.

ATA was already trying to reorganize in bankruptcy court. Officials blamed the retreat from Indianapolis on rivals that moved into the city to take advantage of ATA's weakened financial condition.

AirTran originally planned to start flights between Indianapolis and Atlanta in May and between Indianapolis and Orlando in June. But last week the Orlando-based discounter moved up the Atlanta flights to April and added a new flight from Tampa International Airport.

"These flights will provide Indianapolis with its only low-fare nonstop service to Atlanta and to Tampa," vice president Kevin Healy said in a prepared statement.

Well, not exactly.

Southwest Airlines, the oldest and biggest low-fare carrier, has been flying nonstop between Tampa and Indianapolis since 1996. The gaffe wasn't overlooked at Southwest's Dallas headquarters, spokeswoman Marilee McInnis said.

"A marketing person came in and said, "I have an issue with this,' " she said. "Of course, it's not true."

[Last modified February 4, 2005, 19:49:02]