September 2, 1998
Letter sent to the editors of The Morning Call and the Express Times

This letter is in response to the article in the August 4, 1998 edition of The Morning Call regarding AirTran's decision to discontinue service to Lehigh Valley International Airport (LVIA) effective September 9, 1998.

This action is the result of a broader strategic decision to focus our available resources on the continued expansion of our Atlanta hub. AirTran will discontinue all nonstop service to and from Orlando with the exception of Atlanta in early September. Unfortunately, the decision to reduce our Orlando presence overall meant the withdrawal of service in several markets such as LVIA where our service was producing relatively good results.

Throughout our tenure at LVIA, we have enjoyed tremendous support from the airport administration, the travel agency community and our many customers for which all of us at AirTran are most appreciative. It is never easy to discontinue service to a community where our service has been so warmly received, however, it is imperative that we utilize our assets in the most efficient manner possible so as to ensure our long-term success. We look forward to the time when AirTran will have the opportunity to serve the Lehigh Valley once again.

Sincerely,
Jeffrey L. MacKinney
AirTran
Senior Vice President Marketing and Planning