AirTran Adds Ads to Tray Tables ATLANTA, GA (WABE) - Baggage Fees. Peak Travel Surcharges. And now, AirTran Airwaves has come up with a new way to generate revenue. WABE's Jim Burress has more.

Spend any time on a commercial flight, and you'll hear the announcement

(sounds of airplane announcements)

AirTran Airways knows it has a captive audience, so to bolster its bottom line, the carrier is adding--ads--to those tray tables, says spokesman Christopher White.

"Because of FAA rules you have to keep the tray tables up during taxi, takeoff, climb-out and landing, we know for sure passengers are going to see this for about 30 minutes per flight."

Emory University Marketing Professor Jag Sheth says not only will passengers be "OK" with the tray table ads, they could come to count on them.

"If you go to the aisles and you expect price labels or you expect a sale sign, and you're used to it, you expect a sale sign all the time. And if it's not there, you miss it."

Sheth says such in-flight advertising has already gained popularity in foreign markets.

Expect the 2 1/2 by 9-inch ads within the next few weeks on all 138 of AirTran's jets.

Jim Burress, WABE News.
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