Breaking ATA Airlines News!

[Captain Blue Sky]

Hi All,

Haven't been on the boards for a while as I am no longer employed by ATA Airlines. I now fly for USAirways. Took a bust to First Officer and am currently being trained on Airbus aircraft, but at least I have a job!

Big, bad news from ATA Airlines as of January 26th at 4:30pm:

ATA had planned to grow the Indianapolis market to 42 arrivals and departures per day. Up from the present level of service which stands at 25 arrival/departures per day.

However, as of the beginning of April, ATA will cease ALL FLIGHTS to and from the following cities:

SFO, DFW, LGA, SBN, FWA, FNT, MKE, MDW, GRR, CUN, FLL, SRQ, PIE, PHX.

So, the bottom line indicates that ATA will only have 4 flights per day and only travel to the following cities: LAX, LAS, MCO, RSW.

The company president, George Mikelson, has his very large house up for sale in IND and is planning to relocate/retire. A huge, huge, huge list of personnel leaving has also been announced, with all but the very most senior staff members having first refusal. In essence, ATA is being shrunk from an 8,000 employee company to one that will be about 200! Other news indicates that Boeing Capital has seized (aka: repossessed) many of the 737-800 fleet. Continental Airlines, in a deal announced in December, has acquired 8 of 13 757 aircraft (my aircraft) and that the remaining will be used for military charters and HNL routes.

If you want a really clear picture of what cities ATA will be servicing following this massive reduction in service and size, you can go to Southwest Airlines homepage and click on route map. There you will see the cities ATA will be servicing. It looks like ATA is becoming a feeder/regional airline for SWA.

Very, very shocking news that just broke a few hours ago. In addition, ATA Connection, Chicago Express, is being sold as that is a very profitable little regional.

The unthinkable/unspeakable happened. It was just a matter of time...

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Here's the press release: http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=109&STORY=/www/story/01-26-2005/0002906363&EDATE=

 

[CarolA]

Glad to hear you landed on your feet.

 

[Brian Noble]

Looks like you got out while the getting was good. Sad to see, but not that suprising.

 

[Pinnie]

Sorry to hear the demise of ATA. One of my friend's has a son that was a pilot for ATA out of MDW. I wonder what will happen to him?

pinnie

 

[powellrj]

I am so sorry to hear this is happening. We loved ATA. It looks like they will have 2 flights a day out of IND to MCO, but I wonder how long that will last. I am glad to hear that you have found another job. Best of luck to you.

 

[denisenh]

Glad that it worked out for you!

Now, how do you get the plane from way up in the sky to a teeny weeny runway?
I always land in the grass as I can't seem to line the plane up with the runway, ever.

 

[twinscandc]

We are booked to fly ATA on our upcoming May trip. My DH called today and after being on hold for over 1 hour....he found out that our flights in and out of Indy and MCO are still on (different times and flight numbers)

I'm kind of disappointed with our new flight times....Our departing flight is almost an hour later and our returning flight is 3 hours earlier!! That's 4 less hours at Disney!!!!!

Oh well....

 

[inkkognito]

We had our last flight on ATA last weekend, and the return time was changed to WAY earlier. It was rather sad to have our last trip after flying on them twice a month for a year. I will miss them.
Barb

 

[dudspizza]

What will this do to the ATA/SWA alliance?

ATA was flying out of MSP to MDW where we could pick up SWA.

Thoughts?

Duds

 

[PURTYPAT1]

Thanks For The Info