New Service To Sfo & Dca

I don't think AirTran's new DCA service will affect its IAD and BWI service at all. First, AirTran is getting only a small number of slots at DCA, enough for just three DCA-ATL daily round trips (plus one daily flight each to FLL and RSW). Second, the Washington area already supports lots of service to ATL, something like 50 round trips each day from the three area airports, so these three flights will be just a small addition. And third, I think that AirTran expects to attract most of its DCA passengers, other than those newly-generated by its low fares, from Delta's DCA-ATL flights rather than canibalizing its own flights at the other two airports.

And regarding the question of AirTran serving DCA in addition to its current service at IAD and BWI, it's a similar situation to AirTran serving both LGA and EWR in the New York City area or serving MIA, FLL and PBI in south Florida. For a market as large as ATL, combined with online connections beyond that hub, each airport in a major metropolitan area effectively has its own catchment area.