AirTran Adds Atlanta-Richmond Flight Dec. 31 for Bowl Travelers

Footballs won't be the only thing in the air later this month when Virginia Tech takes on Georgia in the Chick-fil-A Bowl in Atlanta.

AirTran Airways said yesterday that it's adding an extra flight from Atlanta to Richmond in response to demand from Hokies fans returning Dec. 31 from the Dec. 30 game. It will leave Atlanta at 6:25 p.m. and arrive here at 7:53 p.m.

"With bowl games, we very often add flights to help with demand from the cities we serve," AirTran spokeswoman Judy Graham-Weaver said.

One-way fares are available from $79 before taxes and fees, according to the airline's Web site, . The highest one-way fare listed is $274.

Richmond airport spokesman Troy Bell contacted AirTran last week to point out the need for more service for Tech fans. Virginia Tech and Georgia have sold out their allotments of 18,500 tickets per school.

Bell said he noticed an early wave of interest in Atlanta-bound flights after Christmas and thought AirTran might be responsive to his request.

AirTran typically flies five times a day between the two cities on 117-seat Boeing 717 jets, but airlines often reduce service in slow times after holidays.

AirTran had cut its daily Atlanta-Richmond flights to three, so the extra plane means there will be four flights Dec. 31.

Bell also has contacted Delta Air Lines about adding planes to help the Hokies faithful return.

He was awaiting word yesterday on whether AirTran's Atlanta-based competitor would bite into the Chick-fil-A Bowl market.

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