AirTran Receives $47 Million Worth Of Gov't Travel Contracts

July 3, 2008 2:54 p.m. EST

Orlando, FL (AHN) - AirTran Airways, a unit of AirTran Holdings reported Thursday the U.S. General Services Administration awarded 119 city pair contracts to the airline, estimated at $47 million.

The contracts are for federal employee travel for fiscal year 2009. The estimated value of the contracts, represent a 30 percent increase from the amount the airline received last year.

The General Service Administration awarded AirTran 118 contracts last year worth roughly $36 million.

AirTran also announced it set records in June for passenger traffic and load factor.

Passenger traffic increased 4.2 percent to 2.33 million in June, compared with 2.24 million a year ago. The load factor increased to 84.7 percent from 82.9 percent one year ago.

The airline said it has enplaned 7.4 percent more passengers in the first half of 2008 than in 2007.

AirTran Airways was ranked first in the 2008 Airline Quality Rating Study.