Last week, JetBlue announced it would add flights into Washington Dulles to cater to inauguration tourists headed to Barry's party on January 20. Now Virgin America and AirTran are doing the same.

Virgin will add three round trips from both SFO and LAX to Dulles between January 16 and 23, which will expand capacity for the week by 23 percent. AirTran is adding flights between Atlanta and both BWI and IAD and adding additional service between Milwaukee and BWI.

Whichever carrier you end up choosing, it'd probably be wise to book soon. Flying from JFK to IAD on January 19 and back January 21 will run you $389 all-in on JetBlue. Flying non-stop round-trip from OAK to IAD on those dates is $919 including taxes.

On AirTran, flying non-stop from ATL on January 19 and back from BWI on January 21 will cost you at least $559. Virgin's round-trip flights between LAX and IAD those same days start at $719. Despite the prices--and extra capacity--seats are still selling out.

Related Stories:
· How to Get to Inauguration 2009 [Jaunted]
· How Do I Get Inauguration Tickets? [Jaunted]
· Senator Bob Casey Says "Keep Pennsylvania In Mind" [Jaunted]

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Attention AirTran: We appreciate that you're trying to make a buck by selling upgrades to people after they've already boarded your planes. After all, you're in business to make money not friends. But is this the best way to describe your new spring-for-business-class deal?

"A lot of people see [business class] and say, `Wow, I want to sit there,'" says AirTran spokesman Tad Hutcheson. "People say, `I want to buy that seat because I don't want to be, you know, crammed in the back.'"

If you don't want to get stuck with a sucky seat, we have a better idea than paying $50-$100 for an in-flight upgrade that may or may not be available: JetBlue offers at least three inches more seat pitch than AirTran, and Southwest also spaces its seats a bit farther apart than its competitor.

Related Stories:
· AirTran Clears Way for Upgrades [AJC]
· LCCs Taking Over for AA in the Caribbean [Jaunted]

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More bad news for the Milwaukee-based airline: Northwest Airlines' 47-percent share in the carrier has lost so much value that NWA has written off its $213 million investment in Midwest Airlines, which it bought with TPG Capital in January.

Paying passenger traffic for Midwest also dropped 16 percent in July compared to last year's numbers with 324,002 brave souls taking the ailing carrier. Northwest ended up buying Midwest to keep budget carrier AirTran from gaining a toehold in Milwaukee; now it's looking like they just ended up with a white elephant.

Related Stories:
· Northwest Writes off Midwest Investment [Milwaukee JS]
· Midwest Passenger Loads Down in July [Biz Journals]
· Midwest Death Watch coverage [Jaunted]

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AirTran will shed 480 pilots and flight attendants in September, reducing the carrier's total in-flight workforce by 14 percent. The announcement comes on the heels of company-wide salary cuts that will reduce pay by an average of 10 percent.

Along with the staff reductions, overall capacity on AirTran will decline by about five percent in September, though it's not yet clear what cities or routes could be eliminated. One assumes Orlando is safe, given the city's recently announced advertising agreement with the carrier.

Like so many airlines before it, AirTran blames the cuts on escalating fuel prices. Says a spokesman:

It's a necessary step that's part of adapting to a more difficult economic environment. It is largely driven by fuel.

Related Stories:
· AirTran to Lay Off up to 480 [Orlando Sentinel]
· AirTran to Cut 480 Jobs [AJC]
· Danica Patrick Flies AirTran. Sorta. [Jaunted]

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Not long ago, American Airlines decided to cut back service to San Juan and by extension the rest of the Caribbean. Almost immediately, JetBlue decided to scoop up some of that extra capacity. Now AirTran wants a piece of the action, too.

The LCC will add a seasonal flight this winter from Baltimore, and additional flights from Orlando and Atlanta will also go on the schedule.

American was pretty much screwed either way, deciding between raising fares--and losing customers--to pay for jet fuel or losing money while maintaining a schedule that would keep smaller, low cost airlines like JetBlue and AirTran out of its market. We'd feel bad for AA, except, well, you remember what happened this April.

Related Stories:
· AirTran Boosts San Juan with New Route [USAT]
· American Airlines Ex-CEO Wants to Kill JetBlue [Jaunted]
· JetBlue Drinking American Airlines' Milkshake [Jaunted]
· LCCs coverage [Jaunted]

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As Chicago O'Hare tries to expand, another airport is clinging to life. Stewart International in Newburgh, New York was looking good at the beginning of this year, with new Skybus service and a $500 million investment plan from the Port Authority that had recently taken it over. (The agency envisioned it as the New York area's potential fourth major airport.)

Now, just months after the Skybus meltdown, AirTran says it will pull out of the airport on September 3. As carriers abandon Stewart and carriers across the country cut back, though, the Port Authority is moving ahead with its plans:

"We know that this is a remarkably resilient industry. Stewart is key for us for providing greater capacity for the region," says spokesman Pasquale DiFulco. "And we remain committed."

Even Congress is getting involved: Rep. John Hall penned a note to AirTran, asking the carrier to stay at Stewart. No telling if that'll work, but he might want to ready more letters: Delta, Northwest and US Airways all serve SWF.

Related Stories:
· Hall Urges AirTran to Stay [Hudson Valley Press]
· Despite Loss of Carriers, Growth [AP, via Newsday]
· AirTran coverage [Jaunted]
· SWF coverage [Jaunted]

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It's not quite a MILF promotion, but AirTran is definitely aiming for the 18-to-35-and-male set with its newly christened 717, "AirTranica Won." Named in honor of Danica Patrick, the plane's special livery celebrates her historic IndyCar racing victory on Sunday.

AirTran is also hoping to lure race fans with its new Flash game, AirTran Raceway. It's not as much fun as some of the internet timewasters we've enjoyed, but it's a decent lunchtime diversion. (While its fun to imitate Michael Bluth, we don't recommend driving the stair car.)

If that's still not enough IndyCar for you, it's worth mentioning that AirTran has XM radio on all its flights. You'll find racing news and updates on channel 145.

Related Stories:
· AirTran Raceway [Official Site]
· AirTran coverage [Jaunted]]]> pbb 2008-04-23T12:18:30-05:00 Search Jaunted string http://www.jaunted.com/search/