Satellite radio is getting bumped off of AirTran flights.
That’s according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, which reports in the New Year XM Satellite Radio will be removed from AirTran aircraft, a casualty of AirTran’s acquisition by Southwest Airlines earlier this year.
AirTran has had free XM Satellite Radio as part of its in-flight entertainment since 2005, and was the first airline to offer satellite radio, according to the airline and the satcaster. The idea was to expose flyers to satellite radio. XM had AirTran seats with the radios positioned on the seat back in its booth at CES that year to highlight the announcement.
Southwest Chief Commercial Officer Bob Jordan told employees the airline decided to remove the satellite radio service from the AirTran planes to offer “a consistent product” between both airlines. Plus, removing the satellite radios would decrease weight and save fuel costs, reported the paper.
The satellite radio service is to be removed in February.
