Southwest to transform AirTran hub into ‘megacity’

By Kelly Yamanouchi

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

When Southwest Airlines fully takes over the operations of AirTran Airways in Atlanta, it will transform AirTran’s hub into what Southwest calls a “megacity” operation.

That means lots of flights but less emphasis on connections — and changes to the route map and schedules.

“I think we’re going to make some radical changes to the AirTran flight schedule,” Southwest chief executive Gary Kelly said recently.

So far, Southwest has announced plans to ax AirTran flights to Atlantic City, N.J., and Newport News, Va., and to launch nonstop service to Austin, Texas, when the Dallas-based carrier starts flying its own planes to Atlanta this winter.

“The immediate danger is to smaller cities,” said Brett Snyder, a former airline manager and author of a blog at crankyflier.com.

In Sunday’s newspaper, the AJC takes a deep look at Southwest's plans for AirTran's Atlanta hub. It’s a story you’ll get only by picking up a copy of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution or logging on to the paper’s iPad app. Subscribe today.