AirTran Airways said it is selling more planes and will cut capacity by an additional 5 percent in September as it copes with rising fuel prices and concerns about the economy.
The Orlando-based carrier, which has its main hub in Atlanta, disclosed the capacity cut in a filing to the US Securities and Exchange Commission in advance of a presentation at a Merrill Lynch conference scheduled for today.
AirTran had earlier said it was suspending its growth plans, but the airline's new plans for a cut in capacity amount to a 15 percent reduction compared with the company's initial plans for 10 percent growth.
The airline, which previously announced it would defer deliveries of 18 new aircraft and sell four planes this year, said it is now selling at least seven planes this year.
The company said it might further reduce capacity "pending market conditions and aircraft negotiations." AirTran now expects its fleet to have 135-140 aircraft at the end of this year, down from its original plan of 147.
