Airtran 2010 Annual Report Download - page 47

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In April 2010, AirTran Airways was selected as the top low-cost carrier for the third consecutive year in the prestigious
Airline Quality Rating (AQR). Our rating is the highest of all low-cost carriers and significantly higher than our legacy
airline competitors. This independent rating is conducted by professors at Purdue University’s Department of Aviation
Technology and the W. Frank Barton School of Business at Wichita State University. The AQR evaluates airlines in four
major areas: on-time performance, denied boardings, mishandled baggage, and customer complaints. We were chosen as
the SmarterTravel Editors’ Choice for Best Value Airline in 2010.
We also received the FAA’s prestigious Aviation Maintenance Technician (AMT) Diamond Award of Excellence for the
14th consecutive year.
AirTran ended the year with over $450 million in unrestricted cash and investments. During the year, AirTran also
reduced its debt by more than $222 million, including the repurchase of over $90 million in convertible notes.
During 2010, we also:
• Reached an agreement with the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) representing 1,700 AirTran Airways pilots.
The agreement was ratified in November 2010 and became effective December 1, 2010;
• Completed a four-year collective bargaining agreement with our dispatchers, who are represented by the
Transport Workers Union;
• Completed a seven-year master lease agreement for facilities at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport;
• Opened a pilot base in Orlando and pilot and flight attendant crew bases in Milwaukee, Wisconsin;
• Successfully transitioned to a new, state-of-the-art System Operations Control Center in Orlando. This new,
16,000-square foot facility serves as the 24-hour command center for our airline operations;
• Amended our agreement with our largest credit card processor on terms favorable to us. The term of agreement
was extended to December 31, 2012;
• Repurchased $90.4 million in convertible notes;
• Continued Caribbean expansion by announcing plans to serve Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, from Atlanta
beginning in February 2011 and we extended our Caribbean reach from Baltimore/Washington by adding new
flights to San Juan, Puerto Rico;
• Initiated new service to six destinations;
• Announced seasonal service to Bermuda, which will commence in April 2011;
• Launched 23 other new non-stop routes;
• Announced partnership with the world’s largest hotel group, InterContinental Hotels Group (NYSE:IHG), for an
affinity program with the A+ Rewards frequent flier program;
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