AirTran Receives 50th 737 in Less Than 3 Years

In mid-July 2007 AirTran Airways took delivery of its 50th Boeing 737-700. The airline had added all 50 to its fleet in less than three years and had another 43 on order. Credit: Boeing Photo

U.S. low-fare airline AirTran Airways has taken delivery of its 50^th Boeing 737-700.

AirTran took delivery of the aircraft on Monday at Boeing Field, Boeing's flight-test center near downtown Seattle.

The airline has taken delivery of 50 Next-Generation 737s in a period of less than three years. AirTran placed its first order for 737-700s in July 2003 and took delivery of its first 737-700 on August 16, 2004.

In addition to the 50 737-700s that AirTran now has in service, the carrier also operates the world's largest fleet of Boeing 717s. AirTran, which is headquartered in Orlando, Fla. but operates its largest hub at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the world's busiest airport, ordered 63 Boeing 717s direct from Boeing but acquired 24 more in a secondary-market deal.

The 24 additional 717s originally were ordered by Trans World Airlines (TWA) but American Airlines found the aircraft -- along with four other 717s in service with TWA -- surplus to its requirements following its acquisition of TWA in 2001. TWA was under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection at the time.

AirTran has ordered a total of 93 Boeing 737-700s. Assuming it doesn't use any to replace still-young 717s in its fleet, when the last of these 737s is delivered AirTran will be operating an all-Boeing fleet that numbers 180 aircraft.

• Asiana Puts New Livery on Latest 777-200ER
• Iceland's JetX Receives Its First Boeing 737-800
• LAN Airlines Receives First Airbus A318