How much longer does the NEW AirTran have to be referred to as the OLD ValuJet?
The crash happened over four years ago. The parent company of ValuJet purchased AirTran in '97, merged with them in '98 to operate under a single certificate, and that acquisition has allowed both companies to survive in one way or another. Had ValuJet not purchased AirTran, I don't believe either company would be flying today.
Still, when a flight from GSO-ATL returned to the airport reporting smoke in the cockpit early in the week, to sensationalize the report, it had to be pointed out that AirTran is the former ValuJet, which had a tragic crash when Flt 592 from MIA-ATL carrying 115 pax/crew crashed into the Florida Everglades on May 11, 1996.
Do not other a/c make emergency landings reporting smoke in the cabin, unruly pax, hydraulic failure, faulty landing gear indicator lights, etc? It happens every day. I know, because I used to work at what is now the World's Busiest Airport, but it isn't always viewed as newsworthy.
Non-NonRev, I do appreciate that you did not feel the need to go into detail about the incidents of 1996, but it appears the media does just that every chance they get.
There has been a lot of positive press out there about AirTran in recent months, which has helped, but the constant reminder of who they were is getting old.
I think it is great that AirTran lives on using ValuJet's planes, employees, and route network, and has grown to the point that it now carries more passengers than the former ValuJet did.
They are accepting brand-new B717 a/c, with 11 in service, 39 on order and 50 on option. For every two B717s delivered to them, they are retiring one DC9, allowing for modest growth. The four remaining 737s will be retired w/in six months, leaving them with two a/c types.
They are making money, for five consecutive qtrs now, business is growing in double-digits, Toledo was just announced as a new/old destination, and another will be announced by yearend.
One of the best things is they give passengers an option when traveling between the 30+ cities they serve. And often that option is a less expensive one. Saving money is a big thing, especially for the money conscious small businesses scattered all over the East Coast and the typical middle-class family of four wanting to take a summer vacation to visit the folks.
I was really looking forward to my first AirTran flight later this month, from MYR-ATL onboard one of the new B717s. Unfortunately, my plans changed. Perhaps some other time.
Long live AirTran! ValuJet (the name) is dead and should be put to rest.
[This message has been edited by AtlMan (edited 08-11-2000).]