AirTran shareholders re-elect 3 board members to three-year terms at annual meeting

Shareholders re-elect 3 AirTran directors to board

MILWAUKEE — Discount carrier AirTran Airways is counting on its low non-fuel costs, strong revenue from add-on fees for checked baggage and other items and its targeted growth plans to propel it back to profitability.

The airline posted a small loss for the first three months of the year and said at the time that it expects to face ongoing cost pressures.

But executives told shareholders during the airline’s annual meeting in Milwaukee on Tuesday that AirTran has the right strategy for the future. In their presentation, AirTran executives said capacity will rise about 4 percent in the second quarter and estimated that total unit revenue will grow 13 percent to 14 percent during the period.

Milwaukee is a key market for AirTran, and a place where the airline is growing.

Also at the meeting, shareholders of AirTran’s parent re-elected three board members to three-year terms.

Under their new terms, J. Veronica Biggins, Robert L. Fornaro and Alexis P. Michas will serve on the board until 2013. Fornaro also is the chief executive officer of AirTran.

Shareholders ratified the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP, as the company’s independent public accounting firm for fiscal 2010.

AirTran is a unit of AirTran Holdings Inc., based in Orlando, Fla.

Shares fell 12 cents to $5.22 in afternoon trading.