AirTran Airways President Bob Fornaro's compensation rose 80 percent to $4.9 million last year after he was named the discount carrier's chief executive officer.

Fornaro received $976,385 in salary and bonus in 2007, plus restricted stock valued at $3.8 million, according to documents filed Wednesday with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Fornaro also received $169,757 in other compensation that included contributions to his executive retirement plan and 401(k) retirement savings, according to the company filing.

By comparison, Fornaro's compensation in 2006 totaled about $2.7 million, including $1.9 million in stock-related rewards. His salary and bonus that year totaled $789,538.

Most of Fornaro's big jump in pay stemmed from his new employment contract when he was named AirTran's CEO last November. Fornaro assumed the top job from the Orlando-based airline's longtime chief executive, Joe Leonard, who remained chairman.

Leonard later said he plans to retire in May from AirTran, Delta Air Lines' largest rival at Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. Leonard had already been turning more duties over to Fornaro, his expected successor.

Meanwhile, Leonard's total compensation last year was more than $1.3 million. That included salary and bonus totaling $1,106,538 and other compensation totaling $206,251, according to AirTran's filing. AirTran said his salary reflected a midyear pay raise of 11 percent, but then a 30 percent decline in pay during the last two months of 2007, after he dropped his CEO role.

AirTran Airways

Robert L. Fornaro

President and CEO

2007

Salary: $431,385

Bonus and incentives: $545,000

Stock and options: $3,749,400

Other: $169,757

Total: $4,895,542

% change from 2006: up 80%

Note: Fornaro was promoted to CEO in 2007