ATA - Any News?

[controlledburn]

Any news on how ATA is doing? Haven't heard much about them recently...

 

[saabcaptain]

major reduction in IND flying effective end of March, appears Chicago Express may close down all flying. News coming this afternoon...

 

[vc10]

ATA blows away Indy

Press ReleaseSource: ATA Holdings Corp.

ATA Holdings Corp. Reduces Indianapolis Operations
Wednesday January 26, 5:08 pm ET -- Maintains most Indianapolis flights through April 10th -- Continues nonstop flights out of Indianapolis to four markets and all U.S. Military and Hawaii operations -- ATA Holdings Corp. headquarters to remain in Indianapolis ATA Airlines and Southwest Airlines to continue codesharing agreement -- ATA Airlines to contact and re-accommodate any affected passengers

INDIANAPOLIS, Jan. 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- ATA Holdings Corp. (ATAHQ), today announced plans to reduce its schedule in Indianapolis as a result of fierce competition in the Indiana market. As part of its overall reorganization, the changes will entail significant adjustments to ATA's flight service through Indianapolis.

George Mikelsons, ATA's Chairman, President and CEO said, "I want to thank the people of Indianapolis for all their support of ATA in our three decades of service in what I believe is the best city for a corporation to be based. I am saddened by the necessary changes to our service in our hometown, but ATA hopes to return to these routes when the market adjusts to reasonable levels."

Beginning in April, ATA will provide daily flights from Indianapolis to Orlando, Ft. Myers, Las Vegas and Los Angeles. Effective February 28, ATA will end service from Indianapolis to San Francisco, Dallas and New York. Effective April 10, ATA will end service from Indianapolis to Cancun, Ft. Lauderdale, Sarasota, St. Petersburg and Phoenix.

Effective March 28, ATA will end Chicago Express service from Chicago to Flint, South Bend and Grand Rapids, as well as recently-announced service from Indianapolis to Evansville, Milwaukee, South Bend, Fort Wayne and Flint. Service from Indianapolis to Gary, IN, previously scheduled to start February 1, will not be initiated.

"We have taken aggressive actions to ensure the long-term competitiveness of ATA now and in the future," said Gil Viets, ATA's Executive Vice President and CFO. "By making these moves now, we can adapt our business to the industry's difficult market dynamics and continue on our path of transformation."

The adjustments in Indianapolis are necessary steps in ATA's reorganization, which include the airline's announcement in December that it accepted a bid of Southwest Airlines for acquisition of certain of ATA's Midway Airport lease rights, providing ATA a continuous presence in Chicago- Midway. As part of the deal, ATA and Southwest Airlines entered into a codesharing agreement for Chicago-Midway routes, representing the first significant codeshare for both airlines.

"We will be offering our customers who are impacted by this change a variety of options. They will be contacted by one of our Reservations Associates in the near future to discuss their options," said Doug Yakola, Senior Vice President, Customers and Ground Operations.

About ATA Airlines

Now in its 32nd year of operation, ATA (ATAHQ) has one of the most fuel- efficient fleets among the major carriers, featuring the new Boeing 737-800 and 757-300 aircraft. For more information, visit the web site http://www.ata.com.

Forward-looking statement:

Certain of the information contained in this press release should be considered "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that reflect ATA's current views with respect to certain current and future events and financial performance. Such forward-looking statements are and will be, as the case may be, subject to many risks, uncertainties and factors relating to the operations and business environments of ATA and its subsidiaries that may cause the actual results of the companies to be materially different from any future results expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the following: the ability of the companies to continue as going concerns; the ability of the companies to operate pursuant to the terms of the debtor-in-possession financing facility; the companies' ability to obtain bankruptcy court approval with respect to motions in the Chapter 11 proceeding prosecuted by it from time to time; the ability of the companies to develop, prosecute, confirm and consummate one or more plans of reorganization with respect to the Chapter 11 cases; risks associated with third parties seeking and obtaining bankruptcy court approval to terminate or shorten the exclusivity period for the companies to propose and confirm one or more plans of reorganization, for the appointment of a Chapter 11 trustee or to convert the cases to Chapter 7 cases; the ability of the companies to obtain and maintain normal terms with vendors and service providers; the companies' ability to maintain contracts that are critical to its operations; the potential adverse impact of the Chapter 11 cases on the companies' liquidity or results of operations; the ability of the companies to fund and execute their business plan; the ability of the companies to attract, motivate and/or retain key executives and associates; the ability of the companies to attract and retain customers; demand for transportation in the markets in which the companies operate; economic conditions; the effects of any hostilities or act of war (in the Middle East or elsewhere) or any terrorist attack, labor costs; financing costs; the costs and availability of aircraft insurance; aviation fuel costs; security-related costs; competitive pressures on pricing (particularly from lower-cost competitors); weather conditions; government legislation and regulation; consumer perceptions of the companies' products and services; and other risks and uncertainties set forth from time to time in ATA's reports to the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

[TriStar_drvr]

Any news on how ATA is doing? Haven't heard much about them recently...

I haven't heard much either and I work for ATA. Since they're not saying anything, I can't be certain, but I believe our crack management team is holed up in Indy busily trying to figure out how to save their collective a$$es.

We're pretty certain we're not doing well, but that won't be confirmed until we post our fourth quarter loss report at the latest date allowed by the SEC.

 

[controlledburn]

Well freaking ATA did it... They cut the only company that was making money for them for the last 5 years...Chicago Express.... They effectively destroyed Windy City in the last month from a regional that was carrying 100,000 passengers a month into MDW to a totally inefficient mess....Chicago Express airlines was carried 12% of the total passengers for ATA with only 6% of the capacity. Way to go ATA...great marketing ...can you say your fired...

 

[saabcaptain]

what a sad day, Chicago Express, was and is a class act among smallairlines. they had high load factors, good profitability, a perfectsafety record, and a can do attitude. management had preparedinfrastructure to allow the airline to rapidly grow with moderndispatch, maintenance, training and other departments. hopefullysomeone will acquire them whole and see them for what they are, adiamond in a very rough field. ATA is grasping at straws now, how luckyam I to find myself at SWA but my heart literally goes out to myfriends at C8 and ATA for what is coming.

no words.

 

[EMB170Pilot]

I just wanted to say as a new FO in the airline world, I am truly sorry for what yall are going through. I cannot imagaine what your life is like. Im only 26 and just hearing all the time the constant bad news from many airlines, I really do hope that the industry turns around soon.

God Bless

 

[saabcaptain]

word from senior Chicago Express management is total closure of the airline on March 28th unless there is a sale.

 

[N905TW]

Shocked.....

Wow,

I can't believe they did it... the fear we always had at Chicago Express, that ATA's inept management would someday sink even our profitable little ship, has come true.

I am truely sorry for all of my former CEX co workers, and our mainline guys and girls ... you deserved alot better than this.....

 

[Angus]

Interesting change of tone from all the ATA Pilots around here. When Airtran was making their business move, all he!! broke loose from all the ATA Pilots about how "where's OUR rightful place at Airtran", "what about OUR flying", "what about OUR seniority", "what about OUR contract", "Airtran is STEALING from us"...... blah.. blah... blah.

Now Southwest moves in, and the EXACT same end result is happening... only under different "pretenses". Your flying still goes away, your jobs are still are being reduced, and you still don't have a number on the Southwest seniority list.

If it was Airtran that had gotten the deal, and these same things were happening (and they would)... there would be 5 pages of threads on flightinfo about "bad" Airtran and their Pilots. Yet not ONE of you have the b*lls to say or post anything remotely negative about beloved Southwest.

What happened to YOUR contract scope, and YOUR flying, and YOUR rights......??

Spineless and clueless is what I say.

 

[FlyChicaga]

I'm speechless. Heartbroken.

Oh yeah, and Angus, you're a jerkass.

 

[FO 4 Life]

What happened to YOUR contract scope, and YOUR flying, and YOUR rights......??

You do realize most of these rights are given up in BK.

 

[saabcaptain]

Angus, that was uncalled for. Only 1 ATA pilot has even posted to this thread so far! The reality is ATA wanted a deal with AWA because it would have saved jobs, I never really heard anyone at ATA championing either Airtran or SWA because like you said it would result in these kind of losses.

 

[English]

Oh what a bummer!

I almost went to Chicago Express a few years back. What a great little airline.

I heard Colgan would be giving you guys preferential interviews. I know it doesn't make up for the loss, but hopefully it will help some of the people affected. I wouldn't be surprised if another airline comes out of the woodworks and offers you preferential interviews as well. Expressjet did it for FlyI, SWA did it for Midway, United for UFS, etc.

Keep the faith. Something good always comes out of new opportunity.

 

[fletch717]

Angus is correct, I recall the venom that spewed from the ATA pilots on this board over the AirTran proposal. I know for a fact that AirTran would have hired alot of ATA pilots. I know that was'nt what ATA pilots wanted, but look what's going on now. I predicted SWA would shut ATA down, not this quick. It never made sense for SWA to keep ATA afloat, It was always about control at MDW. I suspect AT will hire alot of ATA pilots if they apply, just as we did for Midway and Sun Country airlines. Good luck ATA

Fletch

 

[capt. megadeth]

I am truly truly disappointed! My airline alma mater is done.
I am speechless. Those of you that know me know exactly what I am thinking right now. Must be nice that the people that f***ed this up will not have to suffer the consequences....everyone else will.

 

[T45Flyer]

For the record...SWA IS giving interviews to ATA pilots. Furloughed ATA pilots get preferred status, and those not furloughed get moved up to preferred if they become furloughed. I just wrote a LOR for one yesterday. Good Luck to all!

 

[saabcaptain]

yes it is true... a friend at ATA was furloughed, went to the SWA fair and they gave him an interview date on the spot.

 

[rundu]

Chicago Express is not ATA Mainline. As far as I've heard, you guys (C8), have no rights to the preferential interviews that SWA has offered ATA mainline pilots. Maybe SWA will pony up and offer your guys a shot...they'd get some great people. Good luck to you all.

 

[flyhard]

Interesting change of tone from all the ATA Pilots around here. When Airtran was making their business move, all he!! broke loose from all the ATA Pilots about how "where's OUR rightful place at Airtran", "what about OUR flying", "what about OUR seniority", "what about OUR contract", "Airtran is STEALING from us"...... blah.. blah... blah.

Now Southwest moves in, and the EXACT same end result is happening... only under different "pretenses". Your flying still goes away, your jobs are still are being reduced, and you still don't have a number on the Southwest seniority list.

If it was Airtran that had gotten the deal, and these same things were happening (and they would)... there would be 5 pages of threads on flightinfo about "bad" Airtran and their Pilots. Yet not ONE of you have the b*lls to say or post anything remotely negative about beloved Southwest.

What happened to YOUR contract scope, and YOUR flying, and YOUR rights......??

Spineless and clueless is what I say.

Anus,

I think your post says it all brother. You seem to lack some character. I don't think there was a thing said about one Airtran pilot when all this stuff was going down. The fact is that Airtran (not the pilots) sent down a low level HR chick to collect resumes with a fake smile. SWA is scheduling interviews for our furloughed pilots. I think you need to take a deep breath and ask yourself how you would react in a similar situation with your beloved Airtran? Would you be as spineless and clueless as your post indicates?