The FINANCIAL -- AirTran Airways, a subsidiary of AirTran Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: AAI), on March 5 announced plans to add Huntsville/Decatur, Ala., to its growing route map on May 27, 2010.

The growing low-cost carrier will offer roundtrip, nonstop flights on its Boeing 717 aircraft between Huntsville International Airport and both Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport and Orlando International Airport .

"Huntsville is known as the 'Rocket City' and AirTran Airways is pleased to take the residents of northern Alabama to new heights of air travel," said Kevin Healy, AirTran Airways' senior vice president of marketing and planning. "Connecting Huntsville to two of our largest operations gives residents access not only to our award-winning service and low-fares but to virtually our entire network."

When service begins, AirTran Airways will be the only carrier to offer direct flights from Huntsville to Orlando and the only low-cost carrier to fly from Huntsville to Baltimore/Washington.

"This is an exciting day for the people of the City of Huntsville and the Tennessee Valley region," said Mayor Tommy Battle, City of Huntsville. "The addition of AirTran and the nonstop service to Baltimore/Washington and Orlando fills a void in our community for low-fare service and expands our total nonstop destinations to 11. We look forward to growing our new partnership with AirTran and adding more destinations."

Related Stories

• Flash Sale Halo Effect Lighting Up Full-Priced Online Luxury Category
• Marriott International Declares Cash Dividend; Board Increases Stock Repurchase Authorization
• Hotel Indigo opens in the centre of Berlin