Hooters Air begins flying Thursday, when it will make its inaugural flight from Atlanta to Myrtle Beach, S.C. One-way tickets are $129 whether you buy six minutes or six weeks before departure, a perk Hooters hopes will lure the last-minute golfer; a $99 introductory fare is available through April 6.
"The Hooters Air motto is 'Easy to Buy, Fun to Fly,' " says Hooters vice president Mike McNeil. "We're adding two Hooters girls to each flight, just to bring that added element of hospitality."
The launch of Hooters Air coincides with Hooters' year-long 20th anniversary celebration.
The planes are painted in the restaurant chain's signature orange and white, with onboard Hooters girls -- dubbed "all-American cheerleaders" by the company -- wearing their traditional orange short-shorts and white tank tops.
Only one plane will operate at first. A Newark, N.J.-Myrtle Beach route, through Atlanta, will be added March 20, also offering one flight per day.
Why Myrtle Beach? Because Hooters has four restaurants along the resort town's 30-mile stretch called "The Grand Strand," an area populated with dozens of golf courses.
Hooters Air retrofitted 737s with 112 midsize leather seats for more legroom in the plane.
On board will be two pilots, three flight attendants and the two Hooters Girls, who will hand out material about restaurant promotions and assist the flight attendants with beverage service.
"We will offer a level of comfort and service unlike anything in the air today," promises Hooters chairman Robert Brooks.
Maybe, but the Association of Flight Attendants has its reservations.
"Our concern is the dual role might be confusing to passengers in an emergency situation," says Dawn Deeks, an association spokeswoman. "Safety and security is our main focus."
Reservations can be made at www.hootersair.com or by calling 888-FLY-HOOT.
- There are 15,000 Hooters Girls in 335 Hooters Restaurants in 43 states and 10 countries.
- Nearly 200,000 women have been Hooters Girls since 1983.
- The Hooters Girls uniform -- running shorts and tanks, paired with white socks, athletic shoes and pantyhose -- has remained unchanged for 20 years.
- In 1995, Hooters Girls from across the United States marched on Washington to protest the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's efforts to force the company to open their ranks to men. The agency rethought its position, and today the Hooters Girl position is still just for, well, girls.
Source: Hooters
If you miss the plane
The closest Hooters restaurant is at 6812 Tacoma Mall Blvd., Tacoma.
- Hours: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays and 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays.
- For more information: Call 253-476-9464.