ATA: The Story of America's Largest Defunct Charter and Low Cost Carrier
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- čas přidán 20. 08. 2024
- American Trans Air, also known as "ATA Airlines", was the USA's largest charter airline in the 1980s through the 2000s, and was a strong competitor in the Low Cost Carrier air service market. ATA flew millions of passengers to their holiday destinations, and transported the most military troops overseas compared to any other US airline for over 35 years (1973-2008). Their rise to fame was humble, their hay days glorious, and their downfall a painful struggle to stay alive. This video will focus more on the public commercial service portion of ATA and a little bit on the airline's military and charter history.
#defunct #defunctairlines #ata #americantransair
IATA Code: TZ
IACO Code: AMT
Callsign: "Amtran"
Years Active: 1973 - 2008
Headquarters: Indianapolis, IN
Primary Hub: Indianapolis (IND)
Focus Cities/Secondary Hubs: Chicago (MDW), Oakland (OAK), Honolulu (HNL)
Fate: Bankrupt (acquired by Southwest Airlines)
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SOME CLARIFICATIONS
Some relevant facts about ATA have been left out for story purposes to grasp the big picture/chain of events. Smaller facts such as ATA's exact charter logistics/ops, certain aircraft introductions and retirements, shorter-lived hub/focus city airports, individuals, reasons for demise, and others pieces of information are not mentioned in this video, but can be explained in the sources provided below.
DISCLAIMER
This video is made solely for education/entertainment purposes. If you are the owner of any of the copyrighted pictures/clips used in the video and would like them removed, please contact me at realdabomb21@gmail.com . Please see document link provided below for a full list of media sources.
Plane spotting clips credit to PDX Aviation
/ buybygb
ATA Commercials/Media:
• Video
• ATA Airlines L-1011 Sa...
• January 1997 - ATA's "...
• Video
• March 5, 2001 - The AT...
• ATA Airlines New Hire ...
• Farewell American Tran...
• Everyday Low Fares
• ATA Cleared for Landing
• On ATA, You're On Vaca...
• George Mikelsons New H...
Other Media:
www.videvo.net...
• Boeing 707 Launch Comm...
• FedEx MD-10-30 (DC-10)...
• Free Airport Passenger...
• Video
www.youtube.co...
• Video
• LEGO pieces building w...
• Baazaar | Stock and Tr...
• Delta Airlines A320 [N...
List Of Citations:
Images are licensed under Creative Commons and/or GDFL. See linked document for further information about authors and image links:
docs.google.co...
Comment which airlines you'd like to see next! And feel free to share your ATA experiences!
@Andrew's Aviation Pacific Southwest Airlines? Those guys were awesome.
YES PACIFIC SOUTHWEST OMG 😂
Glad to see everyone's in agreement so far 😄
I used to see (and hear) ATA's L1011at around 2003 in Budapest, Hungary, Europe! I think they toured American visitors around Wien, Prague, Budapest. Gorgeous planes.
How about Sky Europe?
I was a pilot with ATA from 1994 until they closed the doors in 2008. THE BEST people in the industry! I saw the world and made life-long friends and memories. RIP ATA.
I couldn't agree anymore.
I was a pilot as well during that time, and I agree 100%. Best people I've worked with, and the most fun. Happy memories to all of you.
I was copilot on that last flight from HNL to PHX. The company called the Captain as we were going through the agriculture / security check, before going to the gate and said we would work the last flight. We flew all night and into the sunrise thinking about WTF we would all do next. But proud of the company's safety record and really good operations side.
Hehe, I went to a low cost 767 operator in Asia which also operated well, but went bankrupt.
Was Bill Montgomery the captain on the last flight.
You’re a jinx! Haha jk god bless happy flying.
Let me guess, Viva Macau?
I worked for ATA as a flight attendant from 1988 to the end in 2008. I had a great time flying all over the world and made life long friends. I have lots of insight to why they failed, but, in the end, it doesn't matter. All airlines, like stars in the sky, come into being, flare up, burn bright hot, and then they are gone. I'm just happy that I got to be a part of it for the short 20 years.
I couldn't agree with you more. At least some airlines like ATA can stick around for a while and have great effects on the wonderful people involved.
@@andrewsaviation7792 Ditto what Steve said except I started in 1989. Best airline ever.
Hey Steve. Hey Todd.
@@toddhollerson6820 Hey Todd! How have you've been?
@@cameronlewis1218 Hi Cameron, good to see you too! Hope all is well.
As a flight attendant for ATA for 17 years it was our honor to take our troops ALL over the world. We especially LOVED bringing them home. Some of my fondest memories are reuniting families after they served our country in the Gulf War. I’m forever grateful for ATA giving me the opportunity to see the world and spend so much time with my amazing ATA family. ❤️✈️ Miss you guys!!!!
Miss you too my Polish Queen.
Yes. I AGREE!! Most of my flights were to military bases overseas.
I worked for ATA seven years and worked with a great group of folks there!
I wish this airline was still in flying I love this airline...... it was one of my best
I was a flight attendant for ATA for 26 years and it was a magical career! So many unique/exotic destinations, one of a kind employee friendships (that still stand today) and variety made this a dream job. Although I was sad to see it end, I'm very proud to be part of this amazing airline's legacy.
Cameron I always think of you when I see anything with Germany, being you were out translator.
I was a MDW based FA and I really believe if the events of 9/11 had not taken place, ATA would still be flying today.
I really enjoyed your video. It was a very nice tribute. I was a pilot for American Trans Air for many years. It was the proudest time in my aviation career. We weren’t a victim of competition so much as we were a victim of our own inexperience at competing in the scheduled service market. That business plan was set to fail before it started. 9/11 only hastened it. We went from being an airline to being a corporation. John Tague nearly drove the company into the ground once. That’s when Stan Pace was brought in. In a move that is to this day stupefying, John Tague was brought back a second time, where he finished what he started. The second time he was let go the damage was done. It was a shame. John Tague had quite a history of bankrupting airlines. Unfortunately there is no natural selection in the airline business.
A great company with great people. The finest flight crews in the world. The finest maintenance crews, the finest cabin attendants. We were, and still are, very proud of our airline. Nobody...nobody...did charter better than us. Thank you for such a nice presentation.
Thanks you, and thanks for sharing this interesting perspective. Bad management has plagued so many airlines it's very saddening. Great people working for great airlines that had unfortunate fates.
I was there as a pilot for just under a decade: 1998-2008. Your analysis is spot on, perfectly explained.
Tague is a parasite, and John Dennison was nothing more than a mole for Southwest, identifying what valuable assets were left so Southwest could move in and benefit while depriving ATA of the lifeblood it needed to survive.
@@bradcrosier1332 Brad! It’s Mark!
@@georgiathai4961 - Hey Mark, how the heck are you!
As a highschool student, I worked at the catering company in Aruba for some months, then later a ramp security agent and I still remember the sound and sights of the L-1011 taxiing into the gate, the smell of the huge galley below. Being on board gave me a glimpse of the old romantic aviation era, and seeing the friendly ATA crew interact is something I will never forget.
I worked at ATA in Indianapolis from 1987 to 1997 as a aircraft mechanic & avionics tech, we did "C" checks (Heavy maintenance) on 727, 757 & L1011 aircraft. ATA was a great company to work for with very skilled mechanics. A unfortunate victim of the 9/11 attack.
Very cool. Agreed, it was sad to see them go along with many other great airlines.
My dad used to work for ATA at Chicago Midway. He’s the reason why I love aviation.
What is his name? I also worked there.
Andrew, I was so pleased to see you added a flying sequence that I did for ATA using an L10 and a Cessna Citation in 1991. Don Miller was Captain on the L10 and I on the Citation. I got my start at ATA in 1989 as an office worker for ATA ExecuJet that was the corporate jet charter company. At the time my employment, I was enrolled in engineering at Purdue University and ATA was the company that hired me. I didn't tell them I flew corporate jets let alone that I was single-pilot certified in the Citations. My goal was to get my engineering degree. My plan was working until George met a salesman that told him about me and I can remember him walking into the office and confronting me. Needless to say I was soon in the left seat again. ATA ExecuJet supported the airline by moving crews and parts within the continental USA. The corporate flight line consisted of a Lear 35, a Citation I and Citation II. My value to ATA was that I freed up the corporate crews for charters. Additionally, I could ferry a full L10 front and back crew in the CII. It was always fun throwing the Captain in the left seat and making him work for his fare while the others sat in back and drank the coffee and ate the donuts. My most memorable trips were to GETMO, being handed off by Miami Center in Cuban airspace, squawking 1200, at 30,000+ ft, at intersections appropriately named SINK and SWIM. I met some wonderful people during my nine years at ATA while completing my engineering degrees and moving to Caterpillar. Of all the jobs I had, ATA was the most enjoyable. I miss her.
Paul
When they ceased operations they came to MDW in the middle of the night and stripped all of the ATA stuff from the ticket counters as if they never existed. Passengers and employees arrived confused, some thinking it was an April Fools joke. It was chaos I hear.
And that's a shame, everyone remembers their commercial jingle, to this day!
🎶 On ATA, you're on vacation 🎶 what a jingle.
Flew their 727 service from Midway to Orlando for a family trip to Disney World in 1996 - the old gates with stairs at MDW and one of the most labored rotations of any flight I've ever taken!
I remember everyone who casually paid attention to the industry thinking that they were making a fatal mistake by switching their focus. The codesharing let them keep the lights on for longer than they would have otherwise.
I had fond memories with ATA when they flew our military flights to the Middle East in and out of Baltimore on the L-1011s. The pilots were on their game, the flight attendants were very friendly and helpful, fed us well and gave us seconds!
Should've stuck with leisure, cargo and military contracts. As soon as a leisure airline vies for business travellers, it usually ends very badly.
Yes, that is a pattern we tend to see when an airline goes under. Usually when a huge change in the business model like that is made all at once, the airline's getting desperate for cash.
Teague was their downfall. Another example of a jack leg know it all over
expanding then walking away. Ironically and stupidly UA hired this joke.
United is doing just that thing............. not like United is a good arline in the first place.
The business flights were brutal to work! 3 domestic legs a day, two days in a row. Up and down. Up and down. Up and down. Loading and unloading. Quick serving. Grueling. Exhausting. No fun. New planes were nice though!
Part of the problem was the charter market was disappearing - the major carriers realized they could get that part of the pie by selling blocks of seats to the tour operators, which is part of why ATA pursued the business carrier strategy. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to really achieve critical mass in that market (not quickly enough anyway).
I worked for ATA for 4 years. It was the best 4 years of my life.
My friend Jim Henry was a flight attendant for ATA back in the early 90's. He loved his job.
Hey stranger you never called or e mailed. Hope your doing well.
Regards,
Dennis
Jimmy was one of best flight attendants. God forbid you were to take his position #7 or 8.
I flew ATA on military charter Turkey and Saudi Arabia back in the day.
Definitely should’ve stuck with the fun vacation livery and theme.
I remember my mom and dad specifically picking them because they viewed them as the cool vacation airline with great rates and many amenities.
I really miss flying in the pre-2001 (9/11) era. Getting on a plane was so simple.
Just go through the scanner and keep walking. No shoes off, no belts off, no computers out of bags, etc.
You also didn’t get nickel-and-dimed for everything. Definitely the good ol’ days.
My first flight ever in my life was when I was 9 and it was on ATA IN 2002! I remember it mostly because of how much I loved the palm tree and sun on the tail.
I started in reservations in Chicago then transferred to MDW. It was the best job I ever had. I have so many fond memories of working there, so many good people. I’ve worked for 3 airlines and nothing compares to ATA. I saw MDW go from one level to what is it today. I miss working there and miss everyone I worked with. Next year would’ve been the 50th anniversary. I think all former employees should have a huge reunion.
When I was in college I flew ATA from DCA to MDW a few times. They were alway cheaper than United or American to O'Hare.
Very cool. It was nice when a bunch of big airlines flew out of Midway, now it's just Southwest and a few others 😐
What was the service like?
I flew them in the 90’s and early 00’s before they went bankrupt. The coach experience was pretty similar to the legacy airlines from what I remember.
My grandmother use to work for ATA as a flight attendant in 1988 and one of her most memorable stories was when the plane was landing and the hydraulics weren’t working but at the last second it began working. She said her favorite plane was the Boeing 727-200 because of its galley size.
I have flown on a ATA 757 to Hawaii from Phoenix. what a great airlines.
ATA is my favorite Air line of all times
They were such a great airline, too bad they couldn't stick around.
We unite!! I used to be a flight attendant for ATA. The best years of my life and visited wonderful countries with great hospitality. No other airline will allow you to experience what we had. 😢
Loved working at ATA as their nurse manager. Awesome job and staf!
Wow, I didn't even realize that was a position at an airline. Sounds very interesting, thanks for sharing! :D
The BEST commercials of any airline.
They certainly knew how to appeal to leisure travelers!
I worked for ATA out of CHI MDW back in the day so I REALLY enjoyed this video and history. THANK YOU!
My pleasure :D
So did my mom! She left in 2006 and went to United
I LOVED ATA and remember the several times I flew as a passenger VERY fondly. I liked the feeling of being on vacation with these folks - and I did! - whether I was or not.
Good video. I was an ATA B-737-800 pilot from March '03 to March '05. I enjoyed it for the most part.
Thanks! It's nice to finally hear from a pilot of one of the airlines covered on this channel :)
@@andrewsaviation7792 No problem. I've worked for ten (six as a pilot, four as a mechanic). I should write a book!
I never heard of ATA before I was in the military in the 1990s. We flew ATA quite a few times on government chartered flights all over the world. I last flew ATA in 2003 on a vacation to Hawaii. Interesting video. Thanks!
Yep..flew out of Indianapolis to Florida often 👍
Fond memories of ATA's L-1011, painted in the "Pleasant Hawaiian Holidays" on my trip to Hawaii, as well as LAX-JFK (via MDW).
Same bird was my military charter out of the sandbox in 03. Kuwait to Ft. Hood, TX, via Cypress, Shannon Ireland, & Bangor Maine. Long flight, but no one cared at all.
@@get2dachoppa249
After a long day and having a seat basically under the intact for the Number 2 RB-211, I enjoyed many good naps! Those engines sang a wonderful tune! I really miss the TZ L1011s out of IND.
That should have typed "Intake for the Number 2," not intact. It was music to my ears for sure.
Awesome work! A guy at work flew as Flight Engineer on the L10 and was an A&P for ATA. I got to fly on their LT1011 round trip to LAX out of Indy.
Thanks again! Interesting story, those L1011s were really somethin.
@@andrewsaviation7792 the one thing I remember was the huge lavatory in the rear of the L1011.
Widebodies tend to have the nicest restrooms just because they have actual space to move around and stand up straight in. Out of curiosity, did the seating seem cramped or was it comparable to other L1011 seating?
Thank you ATA for being my first airline taking me to Honolulu, HI from Los Angeles back in the spring of '98. I still remember the orange sherbet ice cream just prior to landing!
I was able to fly ATA on a round trip from Dallas/Fort Worth to Chicago Midway on their 737-800s. It was a great trip and quality service. At the time, I was an employee with American Airlines, but I liked flying the competition to try different experiences and services. The flight attendants at ATA were much more personable than AAs.
That’s for certain. That don’t call AA the sky Nazis for nothing.
These types of videos are
bittersweet because they remind us of a time when aviation was exciting, glamorous and enjoyable. De-regulation messed it all up. These airlines were fun and made flying an adventure...we need them back.😞😒
I flew on ATA several times from San Juan , Puerto Rico to Miami or orlando or other Florida cities, can't remember. I liked flying with them cause they felt so festive and fun.
Used to work ground support and fuel on ATA at ORD, early 90's. Then while working for United and continuing to get bumped (non-rev) trying to get back to SFO from HNL, I was able to pay $15 to jump on one of their L-1011. Miss those days.
We went to Hawaii 3 times with them they would stop to let off some on Maui then fly to Oahu.. Really good service..
Sounds fun! All for a good low price I hope.
As a FA we ferried an L10 from Indianapolis to Anchorage one time. Upon landing, many of the overhead panels came down. It was an old aircraft but I was lucky I got to fly it once. Also, I remember the headphones we gave out. They resembled stethoscopes.
The first time I flew on an airplane was an ATA 727-100 from Indianapolis August 1984. Thank you for the video.
I worked for ATA for 20 years. We were like a family.
Btw this happened in 1991 or 1992 in July . Sfo.
I took ATA by myself from DFW to Midway and back many times as a kid and teenager. My mom lived in Chicago and almost every time I’d go to visit her, it was on ATA. I lost my ticket one before a flight home one morning. it was the end of spring break and before kiosks, so we had to stand in the check in line for over four hours. I missed my flight and the planes were all overbooked for the four more flights to DFW that day/ evening. At around 8pm ATA got us in a limo and took me and the dozen or so people in the same situation to O’Hare and we took an enormous plane jumbo jet American Airlines plane back to DFW. I was about 13 at the time and no one in my family had a cell phone. I was pretty terrified since none of my parents knew where I was and I was alone. Still, all things considered, they managed to get me home the same day, I didn’t have to sleep in the airport, and I took ATA until it stopped flying the DFW/ Chicago route. I’m pretty sure I still have a few unused napkins saved from some of those flights. It wasn’t fancy but it was familiar and I do miss them.
Glad to hear everything turned out ok for you that day. Thanks for sharing!
I remember when I was with Horizon/Alaska Air and one of the benefits to get to Hawaii was flying from LAX on either Ryan Air or ATA for $65 on standby. I flew over on Ryan which was a DC10(needless to say I was a little nervous on that one but the plane was only half ful), and flying back on ATA on one of the L-1011’s. That flight was full and there were a lot of Hawaiian shirts onboard but it was a good flight. I miss seeing them around. They were especially kind to fellow airline crew members.
Nice to see so many enjoying ATA. The first airline flight I went on was with ATA down to Fort Myers, FL en route to Marco Island in the early 90s. I was probably 7 years old. Flew out of their home base in Indy where I'm from. Always enjoyed their flights and loved their commercial 'jingle' On ATA you're on vacationnnnn.... Great memories!
Great airline I flew it many times from SJU to MCO on Boeing 727-200 awesome memories.
I used to fly on ATA to Hawaii all the time on their L1011 behemoths. Good, solid service and they even handed out hot towels after the meal (though it's still a mystery to me what the hot towels are for, it was the first time I heard of one).
Great Video, I work for ATA from 1987 until they got rid of the part-timer program Mid 1990's even though I was part-time I worked full-time weeks months but obviously how I needed it. LOVED ATA they should have stayed CHARTER and did the schedule thing as a subsidiary or different entity so as to not have the issue potentially that the scheduled carriers have. I did not know Southwest owned their name. Loved working the galley of the L1011. DTW based. We were in my day the Vacation Airline, Everyone was ready to party and we took them home tired LOL... At least in my days with them.
Always had great flights on ATA, my best friends wife was a flight attendant and flew all over the world as well as working during the time transporting our military during the gulf war which to her was an honor.
I flew as a pilot with ATA from 83 to 92 on THE 707/727/L1011 and it was fantastic if you’re a “real pilot” and you’re only a real pilot if you’ve read Fate is The Hunter. L1011 was and still the best aircraft made... still best auto land system to date... that’s if you had the guts to admitting you did an autoland in public!
Randy you were everyone's favorite captain. Miss our time in Cairo.
Dennis
Flew standby on ATA many of times to Hawaii from SFO as a child. It was a L-1011 from SFO with a stop in OGG then HNL. The same plane flew back to SFO the same day in the afternoon, arrived in the evening and did the route all over again the next day.
I remember checking in at HNL and seen non stop flights on ATA to LAX, SFO, ORD or MDW, then later PHX and SEA.
It was full service flight with low prices. Priceless memories. My favorite area of the plane was the back plane. It was like a small first class because the zone consisted of a fewer number of seats.
Thank you ATA for making my childhood Hawaii memories come to life. 🌴☀️🌺
“On ATA you’re on vacation” still remember the theme song before the safety video.. and the maple pancake and sausages they’d served with fruits.
ATA.....the way to really fly.
Loved flying them to LAX
Great video! I worked for Chicago Express (C8) at MDW as an Ops lead. Such a sad day when they closed. I was working for AirTran (FL) at MDW the day ATA ceased operations. I'm proud to say that I worked for two great carriers that sadly no longer exist.
Thanks! And that's quite the experience too :D
Hi Andrew!!! I worked for ATA for almost 10 years. What a great job. I started off in their Chicago Reservations office then worked the rest of my career at MDW. I am still in contact with so many former co-workers from there. So many have gone on to work for the "competition" Southwest. Thank God WN took so many of my great friends. Once you work for an airline, its in your blood. Traveling is the number perk, but also working with the planes. Sending people off on great trips with their family or regular business customers we knew on a 1st name basis. Without looking at their ID'S first!😂
Thank you so much for this wonderful video. Brings back so many great memories.
As I said thousands of times on the reservation line when I answered "On ATA you're on vacation, I'm Sochi, how may I help you?"..
Wow, thanks! And what a great story too. Im' glad I sparked some memories for you and that you and your friends had such a great time at ATA/WN!
Was a great airline to fly to Hawaii on vacation... it was always a fun vibe on the planes.
You must of liked the sherberts
I was working at the Ala Moana Hotel when that last crew arrived to check in. The announcement of suspended operations came shortly after they arrived but we knew a little before it was coming. I was the manager on duty and our GM told me that the crew members needed to pay us directly for their rooms as the airline owed us a huge amount of money. I felt so bad for the crew and gave them some free meal vouchers to help them save on the added expense. Ironically, I was in their shoes when the airline I flew with (Rich International Airways) had gone under in 2006 and was faced with the same predicament when we arrived in San Francisco after an overnight flight from HNL - DFW and I ended up getting a flight from SFO back home to HNL the following day. The crew were very kind and sympathetic to us on that flight home. ATA was a good airline and it’s sad they couldn’t stay aloft.
I love there cheat line on the 707
Flew ATA many times, I have to say I'm sorry it is gone. Nothing but good vibes with ATA.
I flew on them across country from LA to NY through Chicago Midway many times as a poor college student. It wasn't luxury flying by any stretch, but I could fly my stuff and myself for a low price and not get nickel and dimed at the airport for money I didn't have to spare, so I have good memories of them from that perspective.
@senseamp - Like you, I have many fond memories of flying ATA as a broke graduate student who had relocated from NYC to LA back in the late 90's and early 2000's. I was always on the lookout for economical ways to get myself from LA back to NYC for the winter breaks. I'd frequently trek out of LAX, layover at MDW, finally ending the trip at LGA. While it was certainly no luxury flying, it was cool that they frequently had newer aircraft (737's into/out of LGA; 757's into/out of LAX) where music was playing as your boarded/deplaned, and you got to watch movies following take off/just prior to landing. While Southwest has done a bang up job taking over those routes, the travel experience is just not the same.
I will be forever grateful to ATA as they hauled me out of LGA following that nasty nor'easter that hit the area in January '05. Storm dropped over 13-inches of the powdery stuff over most parts of the city (some outer lying areas saw up to two feet). Spent 45 minutes on the phone waiting for a customer service representative from ATA who confirmed that my flight was still scheduled to depart LGA that evening. Took me a solid four hours to get to LGA from my mom's place in Brooklyn. I was one of the last passengers to successfully board the MDW bound flight. We pushed back from the gate several minutes later and were MDW bound. I arrived back at LAX just past midnight and was safely back on campus and in class the next morning at 9AM.
They flew me to my first duty station in the Army. Frankfurt Germany, 1995.
As a fight attendant for ATA it was our honor to takes our troops all over the world. We especially LOVED bringing them home. Some of my fondest memories are the celebrations of reuniting families after they served our country after the Gulf War.
I do miss them. Thank you.
ATA was the first airline I worked for. Your research showed in this video. Well done!
I booked a Hawaiian vacation with ATA for the Mainland segments and inter island flights on Aloha. This was the week both Aloha and ATA ceased operations. We got from Oakland to Honolulu to Lihue. The Merrie Monarch festival was going on in Hilo. Hawaiian Airlines gave a lot of us stranded Aloha customers deals on fares. It all worked out.
I worked at MDW airport in college. I remember watching those ATA 727’s labor into the air in the Chicago summer heat. Seemed like they went to the end of the (short) runway before rotating.
Yeah they did. I was one of those pilots on the 727, 737, and 757. The 727 was nearly always at its weight limits, and the end of the runway was _always_ coming up fast. Hehe, we had much better performance from the 757s!
I love ATA since 97...Flew their b757 from kmdw to Tjsj in 2003 loved it and flown this plane before to nyc!
I had the luxury of working for Chicago express / ATA in MKE, we had scheduled service to LAS and handled charter (funjet) flights to CUN, PVR, MBJ...as well as frequent military charters to Germany with the L1011s. The 737-800s were the only aircraft I've ever worked on with the "magic carpet" loading system in the cargo bins... For a budget airline, No expense spared when they bought these babies!!! When they pulled out of MKE, i left the airlines for good and never looked back... Still miss this job though!
I flew on an ATA L-1011 named "Big Ed" to SWA
Big ED was a nightmare to work on, always breaking down.
Indy resident here. I remember all of the indystar stories "remembering ATA"
I flew ATA as a Marine from California to Somalia for Restore Hope.
I recall it was a great plane and the crew were outstanding compaired to any flight I've ever taken before or after.
Thank you to everyone with ATA for making an otherwise bad situation much less miserable.
I may have been working as flight attendant on your flight. We didn’t stay on the ground very long in Mogadishu and had to make a quick flight to Djibouti to get fuel because Mogadishu didn’t have any.
@@toddsworldofcooking8094 Sounds very possible... Did you spend what seemed like, and like was, all day on the ground in Cairo before finally getting clearance to Mogadishu?
@@RealCptHammonds I actually got on the plane in Cairo. I was sent to Cairo a few day ahead of time. We were not told we were going to Somalia until we were at the plane and had the crew briefing on the van after the van driver was asked to leave the van. Cairo was a busy place for ATA. Always a lot of crew there because it was used as a tech stop and for crew rest.
I truly miss this airline. It is too bad they shut down before the new terminal at IND opened up. The end of the USPS contract between them and TZ did not help matters either. They were still flying during the summer of 2006 and I think by then TZ was only doing charter flying.
My dad worked at Indy for ATA. Really paved the way for me to start working in aviation
I flew them from LA Guardia to Midway - SFO. Was a different airline, I was used to others. Just remember getting in and all the seats were the same since there was no first class. No real complaints loved to palm tree paint tho!
Very cool. Sounds like it was closer to the end of their run since you were flying to SFO at the time. Stepping on a low cost carrier for the first time can be quite the experience :)
"ATA - It's like a cattle car with wings." Customer service left something to be desired. But I lived near Indianapolis at the time, and they had cheap nonstops to everywhere. I loved/hated them.
Fair enough :D
Cattle car is a very true statement that I heard many times, but it was after I had left the company before I heard that ATA actually stood for "All Times Approximate". Lol.
I grew up on the Sout mh Side of Indy. The ATA "You're on Vacation...." commercials always rubbed me because they'd play them in the dead middle of those grey, overcast, depressing Indiana winters. Commercials of scantily clad women on a beach, guys in swim trunks sipping drinks poolside in the sun and people in general not being in Indiana winters always made me depressed.
Then again, if someone offered me the chance to fly ATA to somewhere warm and sunny, I would have loved ATA and jumped at the chance to leave.
Then, I flew ATA to Kuwait (en route to Iraq) in 2006 and then again in 2008....then did not fly them home when we came back in 2009.
Caleb so sorry you didn't think highly of the service you encountered. Customer service was taught by professional in Indianapolis.
Caleb, we're sorry to hear your experience flying with us was less than satisfactory. Please give us another chance to meet your needs on a future flight by replying to this message with your name, flight number, departure date and any other details you wish to share about your unpleasant experience on our "cattle car with wings."
My one and only flight on ATA was on a wet lease Air Jamaica flight from JFK to Montego Bay Jamaica in 1986! It was a terrific flight with a very attentive crew! It also made me fall in
Loved ATA's livery tho!!!!!!! And if you can please do a documentary on Republic Airlines 1979‐1986!!!!!! Republic was and is my favorite airline of all times
I remember flying ATA as a kid, it was great fun
I flew with them a few times back in the 90s and early 2000s. The only thing I remember about it was that time I deplaned by air stair at Midway. It made me feel like a rock star. ATA was never my first choice for air travel, but I never had any problems with them.
I flew on ATA once as a youngster pre 9/11 from MDW to LAS. I wish SWA would paint 1 air craft in the ATA livery. Would definitely be on the spotters bingo card
February 1991 I was in the Gulf War and had to come home on emergency leave and then flew back to the Desert on an ATA L1011 out of Charleston, South Carolina to King Fhad International Airport in Saudi Arabia. We flew the Northern Route stopping at Goose Bay Labrador, The tail number was N195AT. The aircraft was packed full house with troops going to the Gulf Area.
My first flight was on a ATA from Indy to Orlando in the early 90's..loved jets every since
Flew from Indy to Florida in the early 2000’s was my first flight as well
Loved ATA ❤️worked for Chicago Express
Awesome video, i was the lead for c8 for many years, c8 means chicago express
Flew ATA back in 1995 from MDW to LAX back when they had scheduled services. Both aircraft were Boeing 757s. Excellent service on both flights,dare I say BETTER than what is experienced today on most airlines. The way that airline ceased operations still saddens me to this day. It didn’t help that when ATA changed its business model from focusing from being a vacation airline to promoting business travel,plus adding the 737-800s and 757-300s to the fleet (at high lease rates) which in turn increased the airline’s debt load. The fallout from 9/11 exacerbated the problems.
As an A&P, I still cringe at that ground fire caused by the oxygen canister. Those things are no joke. RE: ValueJet 592 in 1996.
Was thinking the same (fellow AMT)
This airline was very popular in San Juan, Puerto Rico in the golden era of aviation back in the 90s when we as passenger have many airlines to choose for travel. I flew with them many times with a good service, hot meals and 2 bags for free. I also remember other First "low cost" airlines such as Carnival Airlines and KIWI airlines ALL with similar good services. Ohh another airline from the 90s but no that good was Tower Air with a fleet of 747s.with JFK as a hub.
I never worked for ATA, but did work their flights at LAS for Swissport USA. We worked the 737-800s, the 757-200/-300s, and the L1011s, including 'Big Ed'. I also flew on a few military charters by ATA, most notably to JOTC (Jungle Operations Training Center) at Fort Sherman, Panama. I want to say that our return trip from Desert Storm might have been on ATA but I'm not sure if they were operating military charters with wide bodies at that point. I always liked working their flights at LAS. The crews were always very friendly.
God I loved this Airline Thank You Southwest for saving its name twice… Another reason why Southwest is my Favorite Airline!!!
Thirteen of the most enjoyable years in my professional career. The people were the finest; the management the most caring and engaged in the business.
excellent video Andrew and keep them coming.
Great video! You have a nice soothing voice to listen to. I would like to see Aloha Airlines as your next documentary.
Thank you so much! I'll add Aloha Airlines to the list. There's a couple completed projects already made, but I promise will get to that one next! :)
@@andrewsaviation7792 Great job on PSA!
Another great video, Andrew . These videos are really good and you need to keep making them. They are very informative and most important very accurate. So far I have not found anything that is off the mark in accuracy. Lots of Airlines to choose from. You have your work cut out.
Thank you again! I'm in the process of making more right now. Expect some new videos like this one very soon :)
@@andrewsaviation7792 I have you marked on my favourites
I had the chance to fly jumpseat in the ATA’s 727, DC-10, and 757.
Well made video. Looking forward to the next one :)
Glad you enjoyed it, there's a lot more to come :D
i remember flying ATA several times as a military member to my destination overseas. I was never disappointed. They were always friendly staff and great service.
When you rolled out the slogan "On ATA your on Vacation" they replaced the inflight blankets with large beach towels to be used as blankets. They where all stolen in a week.
Miss seeing them at BWI. Nice livery.
I took a ATA L-1011 flight to Turkey via BWI. Through Mildenhall, Aviano, Cairo West, and boy that was a long flight...