AirTran Airways non-stop flights between Charleton and Orlando from June 25, 2009

AirTran Airways, the low-cost carrier headquartered in Orlando, Florida, the United States, will start direct flights between Charleston and Orlando from June 25, 2009.

AirTran Airways, a subsidiary of AirTran Holdings, will operate services three days a week – Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday – between Yeager Airport in Charleston, West Virginia, and Orlando International Airport, Florida.

On each of the three days, flights will leave Orlando International Airport at 2:10 p.m. and reach Yeager Airport in Charleston at 4:05 p.m. Flights will leave Charleston at 4:40 p.m. and arrive in Orlando at 6:30 p.m. on the same days.

The carrier is offering an introductory one-way fare of $79 on the Charleston-Orlando route. Since AirTran Airways has a frequent flier programme, passengers can earn frequent flier points on the different trips they take, as statement from the airline said.

With the addition of Yeager Airport in Charleston, AirTran Airways will be flying to 63 cities in the United States, including non-stop services to 36 cities from Orlando, the statement added.

Kevin Healy, senior vice-president of marketing and planning for AirTran Airways, said in the statement that “AirTran Airways is pleased to connect residents of West Virginia’s capital city with Orlando, and our expansion to Yeager Airport in Charleston opens a gateway for residents in the heart of the Appalachians to get to Orlando, which is home of America’s favorite vacation destination.”

AirTran Airways said it would fly Boeing 717 planes between Charleston and Orlando. These planes, the statement from the airline added, can seat 118 people and so about 300 people can travel a week between Orlando and Charleston.

A week ago, American Eagle Airlines, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of AMR Corporation, had started daily direct flights between Yeager Airport in Charleston and LaGuardia International Airport in New York.

From Yeager Airport, there are also direct flights to Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, Cincinnati, Detroit, Houston and Washington, D.C.