ATLANTA — AirTran Airways has ended its relationship with Atlanta Falconsquarterback Michael Vick, who has been a pitchman for the airline since 2004,but whose image has been tarnished in several off-field incidents.

“Michael’s contract expired May 8, and we decided to go in anotherdirection,” AirTran spokesman Tad Hutcheson told The AtlantaJournal-Constitution on Thursday.

Most recently, Vick’s name has been dragged into a Virginia investigation ofdog fighting after authorities confiscated dozens of dogs at property owned byVick and said they found evidence related to fighting.

Among Vick’s other publicity problems, security screeners at the Miamiairport stopped him from boarding a flight in January with a water bottle thatturned out to have a hidden compartment. Vick said he used it to store jewelry,and police found no evidence of smuggled drugs.

Vick’s publicist blamed AirTran when the quarterback known for his quicknessfailed to arrive in Washington to speak before Congress. AirTran said Vick hadample opportunities to get to his destination on AirTran but chose not to.