AirTran to add another sunshine site from Milwaukee

Another interesting Milwaukee (MKE) move for discount airline AirTran Airways. On December 20, the carrier will launch nonstop Milwaukee (MKE) to Phoenix (PHX) service as well as go daily on a couple of Florida routes out of Milwaukee’s Mitchell International Airport.

AirTran was rebuffed recently after a protracted attempt to take over Milwaukee-based Midwest Airlines.

Midwest flies the same three routes on which AirTran is either increasing or starting new service. AirTran is boosting flights to a couple of cities to which Midwest, and it, already fly: Fort Myers (RSW), and Tampa (TPA). Those routes go daily on December 20, in time for the seasonal demand of snowbird seats. AirTran’s starting one-way fares on these two Florida runs are in the $90 range.

AirTran is putting its newest, largest, and longest-range aircraft on the three routes: the Boeing 737-700 twinjet.

AirTran already serves a number of other destinations nonstop from Milwaukee: Atlanta (ATL), Baltimore/Washington (BWI), Las Vegas (LAS), and Orlando (MCO).

AirTran styles itself as a different kind of discount airline. The carrier offers XM® Satellite Radio on its fleet of 737-700s and 717-200s, one the airline says is the youngest all-Boeing fleet in the country.

© Cheapflights Ltd Jerry Chandler

Related article: AirTran’s Dog Days of Summer Sale