: The airline was the global launch customer for the Boeing 717 , a modern, fuel-efficient aircraft that became the backbone of its fleet. The "Citrus" Legacy in Atlanta
: In a rare corporate maneuver, the much larger ValuJet purchased the smaller, Orlando-based AirTran Airways in 1997 and adopted its name to shed its negative reputation. Innovative Business Model airtran
: After the tragic crash of Flight 592 in the Everglades in 1996, the ValuJet brand became synonymous with safety concerns. : The airline was the global launch customer
: They were known for humorous commercials, including one that mocked Southwest's "cattle call" boarding process by showing people in cow costumes. The End of an Era : They were known for humorous commercials, including
: Southwest eventually retired the AirTran brand and sent its specialized Boeing 717 fleet to Delta. Today, memorabilia from the "big little a" is preserved at Southwest's headquarters in Dallas.
For years, AirTran operated its largest hub at , using the distinctive call sign "Citrus" as a nod to its Florida roots.
Airlines of YesterYear: ValuJet and AirTran - Yester Year Retro