Airlines Remembered
American Transair
Photos © R.Leeuw
Ceased operations: 2003 (renamed & continued ops as ATA Airlines)
Homebase: Indianapolis Int'l, IN
Founded: 1973
ICAO callsign: Amtran
IATA/ICAO code : TZ / AMT
Operations: passengers
The namechange became official during 2003, after having traded (dba - doing business as) as ATA for some time and the name American Trans Air can be written in history books.
Boeing 727-264(Advanced) N765AT (c/n 23014/1816) on final approach into Chicago O'Hare's Int'l Airport on 02Aug98. This colourscheme was familiar for a long
time, but around 1998 also the more festive colourscheme below was introduced.
ATA (ATA Airlines, Inc), providing scheduled service to 40+ destinations.
ATA Charter, for charter services
ATA Connection (Chicago Express Airlines, Inc., a regional commuter airline)
Ambassadair Travel Club, Inc., air travel club
ATA Training Corporation, provides training for students to become certified Air Frame and Power Plant Technicians.
Lockheed L.1011 tristar 50 N197AT (c/n 193P-1082) at Manchester,UK on 19Aug2000.
N301TZ Boeing 737-83N(Winglets) in the new livery of ATA, on final approach into Seattle's "Sea-Tac" IAP, 12Aug03
Close up of the newly revised taillogo.
Some of ATA's milestones:
| 1973 | Year founded |
1981 | Air carrier status approved |
1986 | Scheduled passenger service begins |
1992 | Scheduled service hub opens at Chicago-Midway |
1999 | Surpassed $1 billion in annual revenue |
2000 | "Major Carrier" status achieved |
2001 | Begins re-fleeting process and scheduled service from Chicago-Midway to international destinations. |
2002 | ATA becomes the number one carrier from both Indianapolis International Airport and Chicago-Midway, and the third largest carrier overall in Chicago, based on the number of passengers flown. |
2003 | ATA announces a company name change from American Trans Air, Inc. to ATA Airlines, Inc. |
ATA Airlines failed in 2004.
Sources:
JP Airline Fleets, edition 2002
ATA facts
