AirTran, port underwrite ad effort

12/6/2000

AirTran Airways has started a $40,000 ad campaign, buying an ad on a TARTA bus, and the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority is picking up half the bill.

The bright-red ad featuring an AirTran plane is on both sides of the Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority bus.

Brian Schwartz, a port authority spokesman, said AirTran's contract with TARTA lasts until April. As part of its incentive package for new or expanded air service, the port authority is paying half that cost, Mr. Schwartz said.

The TARTA contract specifies that the AirTran bus be used primarily on the No. 10 route, between the downtown and Southwyck Shopping Center via Rossford, Perrysburg, and Maumee.

AirTran began three daily flights between Toledo and Atlanta on Oct. 3 and its discount fares, along with fare reductions by its competitors, have attracted a surge of passengers to Toledo Express.

As part of the new-service incentive, the port authority is waiving airport landing fees for AirTran flights through March.