ATA Airlines plans to fly its last flights out of Denver today. Southwest Airlines, which has had a marketing partnership with the carrier, will essentially replace ATA’s service.
The Indianapolis-based low-cost carrier announced in November that it would end its four daily nonstop flights from Denver to Chicago’s Midway International Airport and two daily nonstop flights from Denver to Phoenix.
ATA’s decision came shortly after Southwest’s October announcement that it would begin flying out of Denver. Southwest, which allows its passengers to connect to ATA flights, said it would discontinue that “code-share” partnership for flights out of Denver.
ATA has fewer than 50 employees in Denver. The company said it will eliminate a majority of those positions.
“It certainly is a reminder of the difficult industry we’re in when airlines have to cut back,” said Frontier Airlines spokesman Joe Hodas.
ATA carried 40,550 passengers from DIA in October 2005, giving it about 1.24 percent of market share.
ATA has been flying out of Denver since 1998, when it started local operations with flights to Midway. The carrier filed for bankruptcy protection in 2004.
ATA will stop using its gate on the C concourse. Southwest has asked for a third gate on that concourse.
Southwest struck a $117 million deal with ATA in 2004 to provide an infusion of capital to ATA while adding six of ATA’s gates to the 19 Southwest already had at Midway airport. As part of the agreement, the carriers started their code-share marketing partnership.
ATA also is ending service to and from Indianapolis and San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Staff writer Kelly Yamanouchi can be reached at 303-820-1488 or at kyamanouchi@denverpost.com.
Gone from Denver
Some airlines no longer serving DIA:
Bought out:
Reno Air – acquired by American Airlines, 1999
TWA – acquired by American, 2001
Shut down:
MarkAir – closed in 1995
Western Pacific – closed in 1998
Midway – closed in 2001
Vanguard – closed in 2002
Still flying, but not from DIA:
Korean Air – left DIA in 1999
Spirit – left in 2004
ATA – last flights leave today
