ATA Airlines grounded by bankruptcy -- Air Transportation Indus...

How can ATA get away with accepting airfare knowing they were going under? Then to have the nerve (to put it lightly) to call a residence asking for more money the day before this came to be known. Now these people have to fight to get their refunds...that's criminal activity.

An actual worker for ATA called my in-laws stating that more money was required for their airfare. Please beware...it should be a well-known fact by now. Other Airlines should be jumping on board to help the stranded people, it would make better business for them.

Looks like the campaigns for the two democratic presidential candidates were aware of the problem and didn't want to get stranded, so they stopped using ATA. These are the candidates that supposedly care about the average joe?

"No worries for the candidates and their entourages of courtiers, journalists and Secret Service agents. The charter company the campaigns use caught wind of problems at ATA and switched to other carriers three weeks ago.(The McCain campaign flies JetBlue.)"
http://trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com/archiv...

I just have to say ATA was always my family's choice of airlines, I remember as a kid looking through Ambassadair brochure pretending I was going to travel to all these tropical places!!As an adult I carried on the tradition only flying ATA until they left Inpls International a few years back!!I am very sad to hear they are gone for good!!Thanks ATA for all the great memories and safely getting us to our vacation destinations!!I still sing the old commercial "ATA your on vacation"Thanks to my favorite stewardess Carla Drake you always made our flights even more fun!!~Sincerely Michelle Elliott-Tackett

Stuck by ATA wrote:

Looks like the campaigns for the two democratic presidential candidates were aware of the problem and didn't want to get stranded, so they stopped using ATA. These are the candidates that supposedly care about the average joe?
"No worries for the candidates and their entourages of courtiers, journalists and Secret Service agents. The charter company the campaigns use caught wind of problems at ATA and switched to other carriers three weeks ago.(The McCain campaign flies JetBlue.)"
http://trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com/archiv...

Know they did not really switch airline carriers -
Looks like the campaigns for the two democratic presidential candidates were aware of the problem and didn't want to get stranded, so they stopped using ATA. These are the candidates that supposedly care about the average joe?

Global Aero Logistics ATA
Global Aero Logistics North American
Global Aero Logistics World

Are all the same company that is one reason why Global Aero Logisitcs is in Chapter 11 rather than chapter 7.

Global Aero Logistics is trying to keep hold on the reigns of the 9 DC10-s that were financed by ATA, of which only 4 were ever used by ATA.

The other 5 were allowed to sit in storage or allowed to be leased out by the Global Aero Logistics holding company to the other Global Aero Logistics World Airways company while ATA was paying a high price for their lack of usage and MX headaches... which distrupted service.

There is something Frank Lorezno-ish going on here very similiar to the Continetal Airlines and Eastern airlines fiasco. All the same it will be interesting to know :

HOW little the other Global Aero Logistics World Airways company was paying for the potential usage of the 5 DC-10 airframes and the 4 other DC-10's now that ATA segment of the operaton has folded into a Chapter 11 filing.

i understand the loss to these people with the jobs. I think the company should have done more for the customers though. My husband was enroute home after being deployed to Iraq and he is sitting, waiting for a flight home. the airline posted a sign saying there should be a flight sometime monday (72 hour hold)but if they are shut down, how is that going to happen. with his cercumstances, he cannot fly a normal flight, so how will he get home? his military orders and tomorrow.

i meant to say, he is on military orders and they end tomorrow.

Very no-class of ATA's board of directors not to mention anything about their airline's folding. Those guys better not put anything ATA-related on their resumes. And if they do, I hope they spend a LONG time looking for a job. Those guys are perfect examples of why managers and owners in America have a bad name.

Agreed

I'm sure all of the top execs are walking away with millions in their pockets.
I agree 100%! Did you notice how the article said "virtually all" employees lost their jobs.

You can bet the ATA CEO got a fat exit bonus for this.

This is true... I think they are being given the term "key employees" by the management conspiracy running the show.

Well, ATA just ruined my vacation plans to see my son for the first time in 3 years! Had I known I would have booked on another airline. I worked for almost a year to scrape together the airfare for Hawaii and now it's gone....I'm going to miss the birth of my granddaughter too....THANKS A LOT ATA

the hedge fund that runs Global Aero Logistics ATA ruined your reunion... I am sorry but the people of ATA Airlines did not. THANKS ALOT GLOBAL AERO LOGISTICS.
So sorry to hear of this.... pleas consider a class action lawsuit against MatlinPatterson hedge fund.

Wow.
I assume that they spoke with a legal team before following through with such actions; as such I am afraid that this might be a legal thing to do, no accountability to customers and employees.

Even then if it is legal, it still seems unethical to do something like that.

So true!

Ahhhhhh.....

If Only ATA Airlines had been operating under the Name: Bear Stearns Airlines....

But, then they don't have that cozy New York Connection, do they ????

Who is MATLINPATTERSON / Matlin Patterson - are they the same owners of Global Aero Logistics - World Airways and Global Aero Logistics - North American Airlines?

With ATA

"You're on PERMANENT vacation"

!!!

(; cute one but a sad one too!

I'll bet that Hillary got the call at 3AM that ATA was going under. She then proceeded to go back to sleep!
I can't believe that ATA was still selling tickets the day before they folded. What a bunch of crap.

Yes it is... I always thought it was a bit of a conflict of interest with this company (ATA)which was so commited to the AMC troop movement flights to be flying around the Democrat Candiates which seem to have so much contempt for the troops.

Now these same Democrat candidates seem to have just as much or equal contempt for the loyal employees of Global Aero Logistics ATA by continuing to use Global Aero Logistics North American Airlines which is all the same company.

Sounds like people need to actually do something about this -- like filing a class action lawsuit

How can ATA get away with accepting airfare knowing they were going under? Then to have the nerve (to put it lightly) to call a residence asking for more money the day before this came to be known. Now these people have to fight to get their refunds...that's criminal activity.

Direct the class action lawsuit to the hedge fund company finanacial investment firm Matlin Patterson's Global Oppurtunties Fund II. They could have directed their other companies flight operation to accomodate the stranded passengers by rerouting them on World Airways or North American Airlines charter aircraft.

AMR and American Airlines and American Eagle Airlines do this for their stranded passengers all the time and even on other none owned airlines

It's so sad for the passengers and even more for the employees..I wish them the best and to find a new and better jobs...

American Airlines really helped us out as we attempted to get to Midway after our flight was canceled from HONOLULU as ATA call it quits...Thank American Airlines

That is kind of you. I am aware of a few people who are involved with this through my consulting work.

Thanks AAers... TZ frontline (;

i understand the loss to these people with the jobs. I think the company should have done more for the customers though. My husband was enroute home after being deployed to Iraq and he is sitting, waiting for a flight home. the airline posted a sign saying there should be a flight sometime monday (72 hour hold)but if they are shut down, how is that going to happen. with his cercumstances, he cannot fly a normal flight, so how will he get home? his military orders and tomorrow.

From personal knowledge of ATA Airlines... I know the employees of this company would have done anything in their power to have reunited you with your loved one. I have routinely heard of stories of crews being about aircraft with military passengers for longer than 22 hours when weather or mechanical issues intervene.

This was a Matlin Patterson Global Aero Logistics decision.... the inconvinience could have been prevented.

stop raggn on the poor uninformed pax. ATA mngt should have told everyone the were ending operations in 24 hrs like PAA did. But why should mngt care anyway, they aren't walking away empty like the employees.

well at least you still have a job as we the ata employees who knew nothing about our airline going out of business do not, and united and has the same fare as we did!

So sorry to hear of this. I am sure your individual commitment and pride the people and employees of ATA displayed will carry you a long way in your future endeavors. Have faith and remember the good times

I nearly cried yesterday listening to NPR's interview of an ATA pilot who didn't know he had lost his job until he showed up at Midway and his access badge didn't work.

...and now the ATA execs are telling both the employees and the passengers to suck it up, while they make out gangbusters. Since when did "people before profits" become fighting words in this country?

I am sure American Trans Air employees are greatful for your compassion

And what about the employees? No warning at all! No hint that their jobs were about to be gone! Now they have no job, no money, no insurance, but they have living expenses that continue whether or not they are working. It isn't just a matter of "tightening the belt" because there is no belt to tighten. ATA handled this very poorly. I understand the thought of letting people know two weeks ahead and not having customers for those two weeks, but what about the employee whose house payment is due and they have no income. I hope the employees file a class action suit against ATA for this poor management decision of how to deal with the problem

I hope they do file a class action lawsuit against ATA Airlines owners and who are the Matlin Patterson hedge fund... and the rest of Global Aero Logistics all the same party.

The creditors of ATA also need to file the class action lawsuit against the Matlin Patterson and Global Aero Logistics holding company for destroying any value the ATA Airlines name had for potential sell of the certificate and airlines identity..... what a tragic loss for the industry.

Quiet Rockland
http://ejectsturgell.blogspot.com
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Quiet Rockland Urges America To REJECT Robert A.(Bobby) Sturgell As FAA Administrator
In the lyrics of Dewey Bunnell of the group America, from their 1971 song entitled Sandman:
All the planes have been grounded.
It's time to bring back America. The REAL America. The FAA is more broken than the cracked airplanes it purports to regulate. FAA Head Bobby Sturgell is a losing legacy case, the son of J. Edgar Hoover's personal secretary, planted years later at the FAA, an agency that the powers-that-be assumed Sturgell could never muck up. Well, that failed legacy case named Bobby Sturgell DID muck it all up. Big time. The United States aviation system is now at flashpoint crisis. Enter, Sandman.
Quiet Rockland opposes Robert A. Bobby Sturgell's confirmation as FAA Administrator. Moreover, Quiet Rockland calls for Bobby Sturgell's SUMMARY REMOVAL as Acting FAA Administrator. Bobby Sturgell is an abominable public official. The current regime of the FAA is a dismal nightmare. The FAA is a guileful federal agency still dwelling in the pocket of industry. Together, Sturgell, the FAA, and the airlines derisively and contemptuously laugh at you and me, the American people, the people to whom this country belongs. But no more.
This spring started with cracked Southwest Airlines planes. The FAA allowed these planes to remain in revenue service. The FAA allowed passengers to fly in these cracked airplanes. And Southwest was more than happy to take money from passengers for flying in these cracked planes. Now but a few weeks later, at least four airlines have filed for federal bankruptcy protection, with more bankruptcy filings that may follow. The airline industry is disintegrating before our eyes just like the tired old defective planes which they pretend to maintain.
This past week saw record numbers, in the thousands, of planes grounded. The groundings are Bobby Sturgell's fault. The groundings are the direct result of a previously-illusory safety inspection regime and the astounding and unlawful regulatory ineptitude of the FAA, now under FBI investigation and Congressional investigation. The results of the groundings to the everyday American, were and are intolerable. Many thousands of travelers were stranded, and we are told by some that the problem may continue through the summer and beyond. This is what Bobby Sturgell would have all Americans endure for FIVE more years if he is confirmed as FAA Administrator? He MUST be joking.

I have no intentions of flying any more. I was also ripped by ATA. $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ Some one should be locked up for this.

New York--Con un concepto diferente de hacer Televisión vía internet, el productor de espacios cibernéticos Nelson Buldier, dió a conocer la puesta en pantalla vía el portal Asopao.Tv del nuevo canal que lleva el mismo nombre de la importante página en el mundo tecnológico que vivimos.

De acuerdo al propietario del proyecto Televisivo lo que se persigue es llevar una programación acorde con la tecnología y con un concepto diferente de hacer televisión no solamente vía Internet sino en los
medios audiovisuales tradicionales.

-Queremos dar una televisión con calidad, pero con un concepto variado donde podamos incluir todo tipo de programas y en los cuales las personas se sientan a gusto, con una programación edificada para toda
la familia-dijo Buerdier al ser cuestionado por los medios de prensa.

En la programación que ya se puede recibir en Asopao.Tv se incluyen programas como: El Poder de las 12, el Show de Ramón Aníbal, Con Minerva en Vivo, La Farándula TV, Asopao.Tv Videos Musicales,Transmisión de Eventos Especiales entre otros que se preparan para producir una verdadadera gama de programas que permitan una audiencia general.

Visiten a www.asopao.tv

aIRLINES FOR A H

I feel bad for a lot of my old pals but, they should have seen the red flags earlier. When they brought in winners like Denison, Karnik, and Yakola (CEO,CFO,COO), they should have known they were DOA.