AirTran Airways is beginning four-times weekly service to the resort of Tunica, Mississippi on May 6.
The low-cost airline says its flights will represent the first scheduled air service by a major airline to the entertainment and gaming destination.
AirTran will offer roundtrip, nonstop flights with Boeing 717s between Tunica Municipal Airport (UTA) and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL). Hartsfield-Jackson is AirTran Airways’ biggest operation, offering connections to 47 U.S. destinations.
“Tunica is one of the fastest growing resort areas in the country and the demand for air service to this previously unserved market is growing by leaps and bounds,” says Kevin Healy, senior vice president of marketing and planning for AirTran Airways.
The Boeing 717 is the workhorse of the AirTran Airways fleet, but the carrier is planning to begin replacing its oldest 717s (some 10 years old in 2009) with a new type in four or five years' time
AirTran Airways says it is the only major airline in the U.S. with Wi-Fi on every flight. The carrier also offers Business Class seats and complimentary XM Satellite Radio on what it says is North America’s newest all-Boeing fleet.
“As the largest gaming operator in Tunica and the owner of Harrah’s Casino Tunica, Horseshoe Casino & Hotel Tunica and Tunica Roadhouse Casino & Hotel, Harrah’s Entertainment Mid-South is proud to partner with AirTran Airways, Tunica Airport, and Tunica Convention and Visitor’s Bureau to announce regularly scheduled commercial air service between Tunica and Atlanta,” says R. Scott Barber, regional president for Harrah’s Mid-South.
From May 6 AirTran Airways’s flight FL1578 will depart ATL on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays at 10:15 a.m. to make a 10:53 a.m. arrival at Tunica. (All times are local.) The return flight, FL1579, is timed to leave UTA at 11:28 a.m. and to arrive at ATL at 1:45 p.m.
AirTran Airways will offer a introductory one-way fare of $49 plus taxes and fees for its new flights to and from Tunica. Travel on introductory fares must be booked by March 31 for travel through June 14. This introductory fare is available for travel to Tunica on Sundays and Mondays and for travel from Tunica on Thursdays and Fridays.
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