AirTran moves to another Twin Cities terminal

Travelers booked on discount airline AirTran will be using another terminal at Minneapolis/St. Paul International (MSP) from now on. Instead of the main Lindbergh Terminal, AirTran flights now arrive and depart from Gates H9 and H10 in the Humphrey Terminal.

The cheap seat carrier's chairman and CEO, Joe Leonard, says the move "lets us continue to operate at a more efficient and effective level." Keeping costs low lets the discount airline pass savings along to consumers.

AirTran operates five daily nonstops from MSP to Chicago's close-in Midway Airport, a like number to its hub at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International (ATL), and one to Orlando International (MCO).

The move to the Humphrey Terminal at Minneapolis/St. Paul removes AirTran from much of the rush associated with the larger Lindbergh Terminal. The Lindbergh is a prime launch pad for Northwest Airlines, MSP's dominant carrier. Northwest is headquartered in the Twin Cities area.

AirTran itself operates some 600 daily flights to 50 destinations. Hubbed out of Atlanta, the discount airline lays claim to being the first carrier to install XM Satellite Radio on a commercial aircraft. Both Business class and XM are available on every flight it fields, including those flown with its expanding fleet of longer-range Boeing 737-700s.

© Cheapflights Ltd Jerry Chandler