AirTran Holdings, Inc., Elects William J. Usery, Jr. Director Emeritus

ORLANDO, Fla., May 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- AirTran Holdings, Inc. , parent company of AirTran Airways, announced at its annual meeting today in Charleston, S.C., that board member William J. (Bill) Usery, Jr., is retiring but being elected by the board as a Director Emeritus.

"Bill has served on the board for nearly a decade, and his experience as a director, along with his unique experience in labor relations and knowledge of our company, are invaluable," said Joe Leonard, chairman of the board. "We feel that he will continue to be an asset to AirTran as our first Director Emeritus, and we will tap his expertise on company matters to help guide us in the future."

The board created the new title of Director Emeritus to allow a retiring director to continue providing specific and immediate value to the company on relevant issues. Retiring board members can be elected as a Director Emeritus for a one-year term, but only on a vote of the full board. The title can be extended if the board determines that the director still satisfies the standard of providing specific, immediate and continuing value to AirTran. A Director Emeritus will not vote on board matters and will not receive any fees from the board.

Usery has served on the AirTran board of directors since 2000. He has served as president of Bill Usery Associates, Inc., a labor-management consulting firm, since 1978. Previously, Usery served in many labor-management positions with the federal government, including as secretary of labor under President Ford from 1976 to 1977, as national director of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) from 1973 to 1976, and as assistant secretary of labor for labor-management relations under President Nixon from 1969 to 1973.

AirTran Airways, a Fortune 1000 company ranked number one in the 2008 Airline Quality Rating study, offers more than 700 affordable, daily flights to 58 U.S. destinations. With 8,900 friendly Crew Members and America's youngest all-Boeing fleet, AirTran Airways provides XM Satellite Radio and Business Class seating on every flight. For more information and free online booking, visit http://www.airtran.com/.

Media Contacts: AirTran Airways Tad Hutcheson Judy Graham-Weaver Cynthia Tinsley-Douglas Quinnie Jenkins 678.254.7442