Southwest completes AirTran takeover

Southwest completes AirTran takeover    Southwest Airlines said Monday it has finalized the acquisition of AirTran Holdings, the parent company of AirTran Airways.
   Both airlines will operate separately until Southwest receives a single operating certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration.
   The Dallas-based airline said it will begin to convert AirTran aircraft to the Southwest brand in 2012.
   The $3.2 billion stock-and-cash deal expands Southwest's network into markets such as Atlanta and Washington's Reagan National Airport, as well as in the Caribbean and Mexico. Southwest also is expected to increase its strong cargo service with the addition of new destinations and aircraft capacity.
   Southwest said it expects integration to cost about $500 million.
   Bob Jordan, Southwest's executive vice president of strategy and planning, will serve as president of AirTran, effective Tuesday. Bob Fornaro, chairman, president and chief executive officer at AirTran, will become a consultant during the transition process.