southwest airlines bradley to reagan flights

Southwest Airlines, one of the top air carriers at Bradley International Airport, has agreed to acquire the parent company of AirTran Airways in a $1.4 billion deal.

The deal, which continues a trend of U.S. airline consolidation, has not yet been approved by AirTran's stockholders or federal regulators, a process that could take about a year.
The deal may raise hopes that Southwest would add service to Reagan National from Bradley BDL DCA. Southwest serves Baltimore from Bradley, with many flights each week, but not Reagan National. AirTran, based in Orlando, serves Washington reagan National airport but has no presence at Bradley, which is in Windsor Locks.

"What this does mean for us is growth," Flaningan said, "and it means growth in destinations we haven't served before."

The deal has a total value of nearly $3.5 billion, including AirTrans debts and other obligations.

Until the Southwest-AirTran deal closes, the companies will operate independently. Afterward, the merged airlines will use the Southwest name and operate out of Southwest's Dallas headquaters.

Separately Monday, Frontier Airlines began previously announced service between Bradley and Milwaukee, one of its hubs.

Other major airline mergers of the last few years include those of Delta with Northwest and Continental with United.

Bradley is New England's second busiest airport, after Boston Logan.