AirTran to service 4 cities from GR

CASCADE TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) - Airfares into and out of Grand Rapids could drop up to 50% once AirTran service is in place at the Ford International Airport, said airline officials at a well-choreographed press conference Thursday.

Beginning May 4, AirTran will offer two daily flights to and from Baltimore and Orlando, with regular service to Fort Myers and Tampa to be added later.

Until now, air fares for the Grand Rapids market have been at or near the top of the most expensive in the country. But AirTran officials said that when they enter a market, fares drop 40-50%.

They hope to win back the 30% of the market that drives to Chicago or Detroit for lower air fares. Without that support, this deal may not fly.

"We have a new partner that is taking an economic risk," said Jim Dunlap of the newly announced Regional Air Alliance of West Michigan. "The reward for that risk needs to be patronage - stay in town, fly from Grand Rapids, use the West Michigan airport and celebrate the arrival of AirTran."

It took seven years to convince AirTran to come to Grand Rapids, and it took more than market studies to persuade them. Cities typically use subsidies, but that's not necessarily the case this time.