AIRTRAN TRAFFIC NUMBERS UP

AirTran’s traffic edged up 0.6% from a year earlier to its highest-ever January level as a measure of plane fullness also set a record. The airline also posted a 3.2% drop in capacity, and load factor rose to 74.8% from 72%, another record for the month. Shares were recently down 1 cent at $7.36, compared with the $7.46-a-share buyout offer price, as of Wednesday’s close.