Fly Luxe. Fly Cheap. Fly Naked!

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Discounters

AirTran and JetBlue are bucking industry trends by making profits and adding flights, at the expense of the major airlines. Frontier and ATA (based in Indianapolis, Ind.) are trying new routes too, but their finances are under pressure. Frontier posted a $23 million loss for fiscal year 2003, its first loss in five years, and ATA reported a quarterly net loss of $11 million, though it still managed a slim operating profit. North American flew some U.S. troops during Gulf War II and the Afghanistan campaign, and it has also kept its civilian business going strong, especially on high-volume feeder flights to major international carriers like El Al. Allegiant Air, based in Las Vegas, specializes in discount flights to Sin City and has announced three new routes in the past two months: to Lansing, Mich.; Des Moines, Iowa; and Denver. Song, owned by Delta, is just off the ground, flying from New York City's J.F.K. to three points in Florida: West Palm Beach, Tampa and Orlando. Spirit has been around since 1992 and specializes in low fares to 14 destinations. The privately held carrier hasn't divulged financial details but claims it recorded an operating profit for the first quarter of 2003.

The Wild Blue Yonder

Privately held Hooters, based in Myrtle Beach, S.C., and owned by the founder of Hooters restaurants, won't say if it's making money yet, but its employees and passengers seem to be enjoying themselves. Women passengers outnumber men on some flights, and even most of the women say they like the friendly service by Hooters Girls. Naked-Air, a charter carrier organized by a nudist travel service in Houston, won't reveal much at all about itself except that passengers really are allowed to disrobe once the FASTEN SEATBELT sign goes off. It has made one flight so far, from Miami to the Mexican resort city of Cancun. For passengers venturing back into the air, there has never been a better time to explore the possibilities.