AirTran's Big Deal In a Buyer's Market.

AirTran Airways Inc. ordered 50 new 737s last week, optioned 50 more and ordered additional 717s as well, at least 10 and as many as 14. The low-cost Atlanta carrier will receive its 737s at a rate of about one per month, starting next June 2003. AirTran signed contracts on June 30 and announced the agreements July 1 after an 18-month evaluation of what, for it, is a larger aircraft . For Boeing the victory over a competing A320 proposal was relief from a string of Airbus successes. The company's Boeing Capital unit will finance all the newly ordered 717s and has offered financing on some of the 737s. AirTran officials said the carrier is in a strong cash position, but it will take delivery of its leased aircraft early and its purchases late, in order to preserve cash.