AirTran Airways and XM Satellite Radio officially launched the availability of XM’s service on AirTran flights Feb. 9. AirTran said it has three planes in its fleet that have complimentary XM availability and will add 20 additional planes by the end of the month. The company said it would outfit the rest of its fleet through the summer of 2005.

“Our partnership with XM Satellite Radio gives us a competitive edge when it comes to in-flight entertainment technologies,” AirTran President and COO Robert Fornaro said in a prepared statement. “To be the first airline offering satellite radio shows our dedication to providing a world-class in-flight experience for our passengers and our vision as a growing low-cost provider.”