ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (CBS) – An expansion of Atlantic City International Airport is moving ahead as planned, even amid word that AirTran is pulling out.

AirTran Airways, which is being bought by Southwest, is discontinuing flights out of Atlantic City this coming January. But Sharon Gordon, a spokeswoman for the South Jersey Transportation Authority, which runs Atlantic City International, says the airport’s $40-million expansion is unaffected.

The project includes a larger passenger terminal, a fire safety station, and a round-the-clock customs facility.

Gordon says the SJTA is hoping the new amenities will attract other commerical airlines to ACY.

“There are many other low-cost carriers that don’t serve Newark and they don’t serve Philadelphia,” she tells KYW Newsradio, “and we’ve been in communcation with them.”

Gordon days AirTran has only two Atlantic City flights per day, while the bulk of Atlantic City service is provided by Spirit Airlines, running 20 daily flights to and from Florida.

Reported by Mike DeNardo, KYW Newsradio 1060