AirTran defers delivery of 18 Boeing aircraft to 2013-2014

0 Comments | AFP, May, 2008

WASHINGTON (AFP) — Budget airline AirTran Airways said Friday it will defer the delivery of 18 Boeing 737-700 aircraft to 2013 to 2014, due to record-high fuel costs.

The planes were originally scheduled to be delivered between 2009 and 2011, said the Orlando, Florida-based carrier, a subsidiary of AirTran Holdings Incorporated.

"As we stated during our first-quarter earnings call, as a result of continuing record-high fuel costs, we are reducing planned growth for September 2008, through at least 2009 from 10 percent to no more than flat," AirTran president and chief executive Bob Fornaro said in a statement.

AirTran said it currently operates 54 Boeing 737-700 series aircraft as well as 87 Boeing 717-200 aircraft.

Three days ago, rival low-cost...