ATA Still Around

INDIANAPOLIS -- ATA Airlines, which for months has cut flights and asked for employee concessions as it moved through Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings, is trying to build its future by drawing on its beginnings as a charter service flying mostly to vacation spots. ATA on Monday announced it would expand service to four cities, increase flights to Hawaii and add an average of six daily flights throughout its system."

The airline is showing signs of showing a pulse," said Michael Boyd, president of Colorado-based aviation consultancy the Boyd Group. "What they're doing is going back to where their historic strength is."Starting in April, the carrier will begin flying from Houston's William P. Hobby Airport to New York. The airline also will begin flying from Hilo International Airport in Hawaii, Oakland International Airport and Ontario International Airport near Los Angeles.ATA also will increase its non-stop flights from Honolulu and will add a fourth daily round trip between Chicago's Midway Airport and Dallas-Ft. Worth.