ATA Airlines to Discontinue Scheduled Service at Chicago's Midway Airport
Thursday March 6, 1:30 pm ET
Will Redeploy Aircraft into Charter Market

INDIANAPOLIS, March 6 /PRNewswire/ -- ATA Airlines today announced that it will discontinue domestic scheduled service at Midway Airport effective April 14, 2008, and international service will cease effective June 7, 2008. The affected ATA domestic markets include Oakland, Calif., and Dallas/Ft. Worth, and the international routes include Cancun and Guadalajara, Mexico. Flights between the West Coast and Hawaii destinations are not affected.

"ATA has operated a Midway hub since 1992, and we have greatly appreciated the support we received from the City of Chicago and our many customers during those years," said Rob Binns, Chief Commercial and Planning Officer. "This was a difficult decision, but the high cost of fuel has made it economically unfeasible to continue our low-fare service at Midway. We will redeploy our ATA aircraft in profitable charter service."
All customers currently booked on discontinued ATA flights will receive refunds for the unused portions of their reservations. For questions, contact ATA at 800-435-9282 or visit the website, http://www.ata.com .

In its 35th year of operations, ATA is a subsidiary of Global Aero Logistics Inc.


Source: ATA Airlines

 

I was waiting for someone to post on this...

Rumor on the inside is that the west operations will cease as well and TZ will return to all Charter business. If they don't get out of the military penalty box though, they will lose that business. The DC-10's are giving ATA a run for their money right now. They are retiring 2 L1011's and keeping one in service through parts off the retired two, but that can only go so far...

Anyone flying for them right now? I'm interested in hearing anything else about this...

 

Wonder who will stand to benefit the most, AT or maybe SWA?

 

We've heard for about a month that management was planning to sell the scheduled service.

Part of the reason for the present announcement is that an airline is required to give 90 days notice if they're pulling out of an international market. That is, if they ever want to re-enter it.

Then, there's not much reason to keep the OAK and DFW flying open, either.

Something's going on, and no one's talking at GAL/MP. I can't imagine that they'd just shut down the Hawaiian operation. No, it's not lucrative at this point, but it's pretty complicated. ATA has world-wide authority with all of it's aircraft. ETOPS and MNPS is worth something, but Mgt. still wants to play with the military teaming contracts to extract the most money from the government.

Polishing up the resumes here.

 

heard that this October ATA has to move to the World / North American team for the DOD contracts - that means the same amount of business for 3 airlines -
ATAs share on their current team cannot follow them - means more business for Omni Air

 

That's interesting. Haven't heard that one. I would hope that the DOD wouldn't be so blind or stupid to let one company play them that way.

Where did you hear that from?

 

I don't believe that. Why would they do that if they don't have to. Sounds like Omni's wishful thinking. Omni will be busy enough, ATA/World/NA don't have enough aircraft to handle the business we have.

 

the DOD is saying that Global can not have airlines on separate teams -
they gave them one year to fly the way it is now but come October ATA
moves to the other team - the deal finalized too late last year (Sept)
so the DOD said one year then switch -