ATA did NOT aquire World Airways and North American Airlines. Matlin-Patterson Global Opportunities Partners II, PARENT company of ATA Holdings, purchased World, World Air Holdings and North American. When the purchase was concluded, the “Holding Company” name was CHANGED from ATA Holdings to Global Aero Logistics and ALL the entities remained under the NEW Umbrella of Global.

That having been said, there has been a “preception” about the airline industry since the ATA Shutdown, that ATA “bought” World and then were forced into liquidation, which is most certainly NOT the case. ATA had numerous problems in its latter years that are well documented. The cancellation of the Fed-Ex contract was just the nail in the coffin so to speak.

It should also be noted that in the 4 months since ATA’s untimely demise, it’s own CEO, Subodh Karnik was unceremoniously dumped by Global as the “New CEO” of Global Aero Logistics/formerly ATA Holdings. Yet another sign of weakness within thier management ranks that dates back, at the very least, a couple of years BEFORE “any” talk of aquisitions or the formation of Global Aero Logistics.

While I truly sympathise with my fellow flying brothers and sisters at ATA who lost thier careers and thier livlihoods literally overnight, as a World Airways employee who is looking at a significantly reduced Profit Sharing payout as a result of the $300+ Million in debt MY company is now carrying, I felt the need to set the record straight.

I’m one who’s had great luck with Northwest, everything always on-time and pleasant.

I have noticed, though, that their flight attendants do and say comparatively little. I sat in an exit row for the first time today, and the briefing was “check out this card.” Hardly noticed a general safety briefing. Service and cleanup were efficient and pleasant.

On ATA – I flew out of Greensboro (Skybus, GSO-GYY actually, so sad…) in early March and saw an ATA DC-10 across from the terminal at a hangar. They hadn’t even painted over the old gray Northwest color scheme. That seemed telling.

Sorry you had such a poor experience on ATA (although the story about you meeting your future wife is pretty cool). Admittedly, I didn’t fly them until much later, long after they’d jettisoned that London route and most of their other international services. They were probably pretty far along the path to their demise by the time I started using them regularly.

I can agree completely on Northwest. I avoid them at all costs and have never had a positive experience. The worst of them all, in my opinion, is US Airways. Between the delays, the ugly attitude, and the uncomfortable planes, it’s always something with them. Personally, I swear by Southwest and United domestically; United and Delta for international travel (I’ve also had good luck with foreign flag carriers such as Korean and El Al).

Then again, I’m sure there are people out there who’ve had nothing but great luck with both Northwest and US. It’s all a crap shoot, really.

I am glad that you got the good karma to balance all the bad they gave me and my fellow passengers. My return flight was average. No problem. Almost empty. In fact I met the love of my life on the way back, so that is to be said, too. Perhaps they learned lessons over the years. I remember that I wrote a detailed letter to their president and received no response. A simple acknowledgment would have modified my attitude, but nothing. I did not find the news surprising.

By the by, ATA bailed out of this market, Fort Wayne a year or so ago not long after great opening day fanfare and a sweet deal from the City.

Northwest is my second least favored airline with its cranky in cabin crews busy with office talk and surly to customers.

Jim

To the cattle car comment above…eh..are you talking about any of the new generation aircraft? 73 or 753?
First it’s an LCC you want first class, go pay for it, secondly their aircraft were roomier than most of the other LCCs.

One time, I actually missed my LGA-MDW flight because of a hangover (hate to admit it–slept right through my alarm). I got to the airport several minutes after the flight had been scheduled to depart. It was nobody’s fault but my own, and most other airlines would have given me no other option but to buy another ticket or pay a flight change penalty.

When I asked if there were any possibility of flying standby on the next departure, the ATA desk agent put me in a confirmed seat on the next flight to MDW, which departed a mere hour after my original flight, no questions asked and free of charge.

Farewell to a fine airline.

I guess the military finally figured out what I knew back in 1990; ATA’s service was very, very poor. I guess they deserved to lose their contract and feel that there is finally, after 18 years, some justice.

I can’t help but wonder if things would have worked out better for employees if the AirTran bid had been successful. Presumably the scheduled operation would have been integrated into AirTran.