Ata Airlines history

There he trained as a pilot, and in 1965 he took a position as a DC-7 copilot for a local travel club known as Voyager 1000.

American Trans Air, or more commonly known as ATA, was founded in August of 1973 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

The club’s first aircraft was a Boeing 720 named “Miss Indy,” followed by the addition of a second aircraft, another Boeing 720 named “Spirit of Indiana” added in 1978.

In 1981, ATA received their common air certificate and commenced charter operations the same year.

Employees numbered 320 in 1982, when revenues were $30.5 million.

With a fleet of eight Boeing 707s and 720s based at Indianapolis, charter operations grew to include the first DC-10 in 1983.

By 1984, owner J. George Mikelsons decided to form Amtram Inc., a holding company for ATA and Ambassadair as well as another future subsidiaries of the company.

The airline also added Lockheed L-1011’s to the fleet in 1985.

In 1986, ATA launched its first scheduled service, between Indianapolis, Indiana, and four destinations in Florida.

Mikelsons remained involved in tour packages, and in 1987 created the ATA Vacations, Inc., subsidiary to oversee these operations.

Amtran's annual revenues had multiplied eight times in six years, reaching $254 million in 1988 and involving a workforce of 1,800.

In 1989, ATA introduced the Boeing 757-200, which would become a backbone for the airline in the coming years.

The company posted its first loss, $2 million, in 1990.

During the 1991 Gulf War, ATA operated services for the Department of Defense, transporting over 100,000 military personnel.

The Ambassadair Travel Club had 27,000 members in 1992.

After this contracted ended, ATA updated the 727 to the -200 model, replacing all the -100’s by 1993.

ATA carried more than five million passengers on its 25 jets in 1995.

The year 1996 marked the beginning of increased competition from a major player in the industry.

Stanley Pace left the company in May 1997, returning to his home state of Texas.

――――――, "Amtran Stock Rises on Good Season, Changes in Service," Indianapolis News, April 6, 1998.

Horgan, Sean, "Parent Firm May Sell Chicago-Based Commuter Carrier," Indianapolis Star, May 12, 1999.

In 2001, the new aircraft deliveries began.

The partnership lasted till 2002 when Travel City switched airlines.

In 2003 the company managed its first profit in four years, thanks to extensive cost-cutting at the hands of Mikelsons, who had again taken the role of CEO. However, ATA ultimately followed a similar path to many carriers after 9/11.

On October 26, 2004, ATA Holdings and its subsidiaries filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

Later that year, on November 1, 2005, a second round of flight cuts were announced, including the suspension of scheduled service to Denver, San Juan, and their headquarters and former hub Indianapolis.

On April 2, 2008, ATA filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

Unfortunately for ATA, the airline struggled after the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in September of 2011.