AirTran Airways Boosts Baltimore/Washington International

Hands down, Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) is the low-fare magnet for the Beltway. Discount airlines dominate the field. Southwest Airlines is first in terms of passengers and flights by a big margin, but AirTran Airways is adding flights and flyers at a fast pace at BWI, even amid cutbacks elsewhere. AirTran is the fastest-growing carrier at BWI. For the first six months of 2008, its ridership at the airport increased by 26.42 percent. That means its market share at the airport is now a solid 13.32 percent.

Look for AirTran to add twice-weekly nonstop service from BWI to Cancun come March 2009.

That will make for two carriers on the largely leisure route: AirTran and USA 3000.

© Cheapflights Ltd Jerry Chandler