"This is a good market for discount airlines," said Jonathan Dean, a BWI spokesman. "BWI has a long-standing position as a low-fare airport for this region."
Southwest Airlines is the leading airline at BWI, with a passenger market share of 51.6 percent, as of August, the most recent data available. AirTran Airways is the second-largest airline with a 15.5 percent market share. The number of passengers flying out of BWI increased 6 percent in August, compared with the year before.
"In the current economy, airlines have obviously cut capacity, but BWI has still fared better than many airports," Dean said.
AirTran hired 42 crew members, increasing the work force by a third at BWI to deal with the added flights. It also spent $45 million to renovate its baggage service and carousel area.
White said there was a "very good possibility" the airline could expand even more at BWI in the future.
He said additional competition from Southwest and JetBlue wouldn't deter the airline. White said AirTran offers amenities, such as Wi-Fi on every flight, and business class seating, that JetBlue and Southwest don't.
"There are great opportunities for us at BWI right now," White said. "It's a great market for us. It's a really good mix of business and leisure travelers. It's a great alternative to the other ... airlines."
