AirTran to serve new Branson Airport

BRANSON, Mo. (AP) -- AirTran has become the first airline to serve Branson's new, privately developed and operated commercial airport.

In a ceremony at Branson Airport Thursday morning, AirTran said it plans one round-trip flight per day from its hub in Atlanta starting May 11, when the $150 million facility opens.

The new airport is located eight miles south of Branson, providing a more direct route for the 8 million people who visit the southwest Missouri entertainment mecca each year. Currently, commercial air travelers must fly into Springfield-Branson National Airport, 52 miles north of Branson.

The 7,100-foot runway is completed and accommodated the landing of an AirTran Boeing 717 for Thursday's ceremony. The 52,000-square-foot terminal will have four gates, able to handle 1 million boardings per year.

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Information from: KTXR-FM, http://www.ktxrfm.com