Airtran has been serving Williamsburg / Newport News  Virginia for many years now.  Originally with regional jet aircraft and later with Boeing 717s and fairly successully.  The airport is an excellent alternative to Norfolk, VA’s airport which is difficult at best to access when you’re across the bay. 

It’s a personal hit as I’ve used the flights to go to Williamsburg, VA to visit my own family there.  The airport is easy to access and just 20 minutes from Williamsburg vs 1.25 hours from Richmond and .75 to 1 hour from Norfolk. 

Airtran says it is economics.  I find that just a touch too hard to believe since Airtran had a total of 7 flights to the airport.  I think this has to do with it being competitive with Southwest Airlines’ service into Norfolk (ORF) airport.  Left alone, SWA would end up with flights to Norfolk, Newport News and, potentially Richmond (served by Airtran presently.)

If you had to keep one airport, you’d want to keep Norfolk since it better serves a massive amount of business travel into and out of the city.  Look for more route rationalization going on with Airtran as time passes.  Particularly in the fall and winter.

Filed under: Airline News by ajax