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AirTran Airways Congratulates IndyCar Series Driver Danica Patrick With Commemorative Livery
- Airline Honors IndyCar Series Star for First Race Win by Proclaiming 'AirTranica Day' - Video Footage Available - Coordinates Listed Below
ORLANDO, Fla., April 20, 2008 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX News Network/ -- AirTran Airways, a subsidiary of AirTran Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: AAI) and official airline sponsor of Andretti Green Racing (AGR), tips its wings today in congratulations of IndyCar Series racing sensation Danica Patrick. Patrick established herself as a force to be reckoned with as she became the first female in the IndyCar Series to claim a checkered flag during Sunday's Bridgestone Indy Japan 300 race in Montegi, Japan. As a sponsor of AGR since May 2005, AirTran Airways proudly sponsors the international racing celebrity with logos emblazoned on both Patrick's No. 7 car and uniform.

"AirTran Airways would like to extend our congratulations to Danica Patrick on the occasion of her first IndyCar Series win by announcing that Monday, April 21, 2008, will be known as 'AirTranica' Day," said Bob Fornaro, AirTran Airways' president and chief executive officer. "As a proud sponsor of Danica Patrick and the Andretti Green Racing team, we couldn't be more excited about Danica's triumph."

In honor of the IndyCar Series dynamo, AirTran Airways unveiled a commemorative aircraft livery and photo of Danica Patrick on aircraft 730 (registration N971AT), a Boeing 717-200 aircraft. Dubbed "AirTranica Won" by AirTran dispatchers and flight controllers, the aircraft is slated to operate on Monday, April 21, as AirTran flight 994 from Orlando to Pittsburgh. It will then operate as AirTran flight 993 from Pittsburgh to Atlanta. Patrick is the first female to be featured on an AirTran Airways plane. 

            "AirTranica Won" flight between Orlando and Pittsburgh

    From                 To                  Flight    Departs      Arrives

    Orlando              Pittsburgh          994       10:30 a.m.   12:45 p.m.


            "AirTranica Won" flight between Pittsburgh and Atlanta

    From                 To                  Flight    Departs      Arrives

    Pittsburgh           Atlanta             993       1:18 p.m.    3:03 p.m.

"It's a long time coming, finally," Patrick said, following her win. "I was managing to save fuel and keep the speed up and when I saw Helio I knew he was the one to beat."

Patrick finished 5.8 seconds ahead of Helio Castroneves on the 1.5 mile twin oval track. Patrick's first win came in her 50th professional start.

"Danica Patrick knows the need for speed, and we do a bit of driving of our own - our airline's commitment to driving down fares allows our customers to take advantage of the service we offer to cities hosting the league's most exciting races," said Fornaro.

AirTran Airways, a Fortune 1000 company ranked number one in the 2008 Airline Quality Rating study, offers more than 700 affordable, daily flights to 58 U.S. destinations. With 8,900 friendly Crew Members and America's youngest all-Boeing fleet, AirTran Airways provides XM Satellite Radio and Business Class seating on every flight. For more information and free online booking, visit http://www.airtran.com.

Satellite feed available for Video B-Roll and Soundbites:
Sunday, April 20, 2008 at 7:30--7:45pm ET
Monday, April 21 at 4--4:15am ET

Coordinates for all feeds are:
Galaxy 26 (C-band)
Transponder 7 (analog)
Downlink Frequency 3840 V

Media Contacts: AirTran Airways
Tad Hutcheson
Judy Graham-Weaver
Cynthia Tinsley-Douglas
Quinnie Jenkins

678.254.7442

SOURCE AirTran Airways

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