Actually, their profit margins were shrinking considerably and their aircraft orders were being deferred. They grew services in Milwaukee, Atlanta, Baltimore, Orlando, and a few smaller stations but quickly ran out of new markets to grow in. In 2007, AirTran posted a net profit of $52.7 million (despite losing $2.2 million in the 4th quarter of that year). In 2008, they posted a net loss of $273.8 million. AirTran’s net income in 2009 was $134.7 million. In 2010, their net income was $38.5 million. Southwest’s intent to acquire AirTran was announced in the fall of 2010, and the actual acquisition did not occur until May of 2011.