Free Republic

AirTran Airways is expected today to announce a $288 million hostile takeover bid for Midwest Airlines in what would be the first major acquisition by an American discount carrier. AirTran is making a run at quirky Midwest — long known for its roomy leather seats and chocolate chip cookies baked on board — after two previous offers were rebuffed by Midwest management, according to people familiar with AirTran's plans. If successful, AirTran would gain a second major hub, Milwaukee, and some redemption after its unsuccessful bid in 2004 to obtain enough gates to establish a hub at Chicago's Midway airport....

LONG BEACH, Calif., May 23, 2006 -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] today delivered its final two 717 airplanes to Midwest Airlines and AirTran Airways in a ceremony before thousands of employees, retirees and dignitaries in Long Beach, Calif. The deliveries conclude commercial airplane production in Southern California that began in the 1920s with the Douglas Aircraft Co. The 717 program, which produced 156 airplanes, pioneered breakthrough business and manufacturing processes for Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "Our production system is an industry benchmark because of the lean manufacturing and employee involvement practices we pioneered on the 717 in Long Beach," said Boeing Commercial...

WASHINGTON, Aug. 8, 2005 – Through partnerships with most major U.S. carriers, the Fisher House Foundation is making it possible for Americans to donate unused airline miles to troops wounded in the war on terror and their families. The program, "Operation Hero Miles," was created in 2004, when nearly 500 soldiers per day were returning to the U.S. from Iraq for rest and recuperation. "At that time, the military would only fly service personnel to a gateway city," said Pamela Lea-Maida, administrator of Operation Hero Miles at the Fisher House Foundation. "From there, personnel had to pay the rest of...

Singer and militant homosexual activist Elton John's mug shot will appear on the side of 20 AirTran jets. The move supposedly is designed to promote the launch of satellite radio at each passenger seat.

DALLAS - The bidding war for bankrupt ATA Airlines' assets heated up on Friday when Southwest Airlines offered at least $100 million in cash and loans for gates at Chicago's Midway Airport and an alliance with ATA, its main rival there. Southwest chief executive Gary Kelly said the bid represented the only way that his company could meet its top goal of expanding in Chicago. He said Southwest's proposal would let ATA Airlines Inc. still operate at Midway but with fewer gates. Southwest is seeking to upset the bid of another low-cost carrier, AirTran Airways, a unit of Orlando-based AirTran...