People: AirTran Airways Promotes Two of Its Own to Vice President

ORLANDO, Fla., Oct. 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- AirTran Airways, asubsidiary of AirTran Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: AAI), today announced that its Board of Directors has elected current Director of Marketing Tad Hutcheson and current General Manager of Operations Jim Tabor to the positions of vice president of marketing and sales and vice president of operations, respectively. Collectively, Hutcheson and Tabor bring over a half-century of airline industry experience and have been a key part of AirTran Airways' continued success.

A native of Lookout Mountain, Tennessee, Hutcheson graduated from The McCallie School in Chattanooga, Tenn., where he received a distinguishedalumnus award in 2005. He received a bachelor of arts from King College ofBristol, Tenn., where he majored in both French literature and business administration. In addition, Hutcheson completed international marketing studies at St. Peter's College, Oxford University, and the International Business Institute in Europe. Hutcheson also earned an MBA from Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, N.C.

A resident of Atlanta, Ga., Hutcheson is involved in the community. He isa graduate of Leadership Atlanta and serves on the Boards of the Atlanta Business League, the Atlanta College of Art Junior Achievement of Georgia, Leadership Atlanta, Travelers' Aid of Metropolitan Atlanta, the Georgia Chamber of Commerce and the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce. The savvy marketer has received a number of accolades for his industry leadership and AirTran Airways programs, including two Rising Star awards by Travel Agent Magazine and recognition by PR Week for heading one of the nation's top corporate public relations teams.

"Tad's marketing expertise has been instrumental to AirTran Airways' success over the past eight years," said Robert L. Fornaro, AirTran Airways president and chief operating officer. "He brings creative vision and strategic business thinking to our communication with customers, crew members and investors."

Jim Tabor has been promoted to the vice president of operations role after nearly five years of outstanding service as AirTran Airways' general managerof operations. Tabor is responsible for the airline's system operations control (SOC), dispatch, crew planning/scheduling, operations analysis, charter operations and ATC/airfield operations.

Previously Tabor has served as senior director - SOC for America West Airlines in Tempe, Ariz., and senior director of operations for US Airways in Pittsburgh, Pa. He started his aviation career in 1981 at Piedmont Airlines in Roanoke, Va.

At AirTran Airways, Tabor has developed the operations functions to support the company's vigorous growth plan and to assure continued effectiveness in the operations area.

"Jim's analysis and planning for AirTran Airways' operations have brought new efficiencies to our airline," comments Fornaro. "As a seasoned industry expert, he has streamlined daily operations and found new ways to lower costsand improve operations."

Tabor earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from Eastern Nazarene College in Wollaston, Mass. He also possesses an FAA aircraft dispatcher certificate. Tabor has two daughters: one resides in Columbus, Ohio, and the other and her family reside in Algonquin, Ill. He and his wife currently livein Orlando, Fla.