Does this make ATA the first US carrier to place a new order since 9/11? = Regards Nick Boeing and ATA Announce Purchase of Additional 757-300 Airplanes INDIANAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 24, 2002--American Trans Air, Inc. = (ATA), the principal subsidiary of Amtran, Inc. (Nasdaq:AMTR - news) and = The Boeing Company (NYSE:BA - news) announced signing an agreement to = exercise options for two additional Boeing 757-300 airplanes for = delivery in 2003.=20 The order will bring the number of airplanes in the ATA 757 fleet to 27, = 12 of the new 757-300's and 15 of the 757-200's. The 757-300 will be = powered by Rolls Royce RB 211-535-E4C engines. ATA was the North = American launch customer for the -300 model of the 757 and is the only = operator of the performance enhanced -E4C model engine.=20 ``We are delighted with ATA's decision to once again choose the 757-300. = The decision reflects the success they are experiencing with this = excellent airplane. The proven reliability, fuel efficiency and = comfortable interior of the 757-300 deliver value for both operators and = passengers,'' said Pat Shanahan, vice president and general manager of = the 757 program.=20 Boeing Capital Corporation increased its relationship with ATA as well, = with a commitment to provide lease financing on the additional = airplanes. The airplanes deliver in May and June 2003 and have a list = price value of $166 million.=20 The 757-300 has the lowest seat-mile cost of any single-aisle and = mid-sized jetliner, making it an extremely cost-effective airplane for = airlines to operate. It burns less fuel than older mid-range airplanes, = meets community noise restrictions well below current Stage 3 limits and = complies with strict new international emissions standards.=20 Since taking delivery of the first 757-300 airplane in August 2001, ATA = has experienced exceptional performance from the efficient, single-aisle = airplane. For the 90-day period ending December 31, 2001, the five = delivered airplanes had a fleet-wide reliability rate of 99.5%.=20 ``We are very pleased by the airplane's reliability, especially = considering it's a new model airframe. Our maintenance folks have been = working with the Boeing technical support team, and together we expect = our -300 fleet-wide reliability to exceed 99.6%. It's a great = airplane,'' said Terry Kerber, ATA's Vice President of Line Maintenance. = ATA flies the 757-300 in a 247-seat configuration and the 757-200 in a = 216-seat configuration. With the additional 31 seats on the 757-300, ATA = has experienced up to an 11 percent reduction in direct operating costs = per seat mile over the 757-200, excluding ownership costs. The larger = 757-300 airplane also is the largest airplane capable of being operated = out of ATA's primary hub, Chicago's Midway Airport.=20 The new airplane has been well received by the ATA customers as well. = The passenger cabin on the 757-300 is based on the popular, = award-winning Boeing 777 interior design, offering passengers a = spacious, user-friendly cabin with comfortable, aesthetically pleasing = surroundings.=20 ``With the combination of the new aircraft, with its leather seating, = drop-down video systems and the new facility in Chicago Midway, ATA has = significantly improved the customer's experience,'' said Don Moonjian, = ATA's vice president of marketing.=20 The additional airplanes are the first options to be exercised by ATA. = In May 2000, ATA and its partners, Boeing, Boeing Capital Corporation, = GE Aircraft Engines, GE Capital Aviation Services, ILFC and Rolls Royce = signed agreements for 39 737-800 airplanes with 40 options, and 10 = 757-300 airplanes with 10 options. As of December 31, 2001, ATA had = taken delivery of 14 737-800's and five 757-300's. In 2002 ATA will take = delivery of 16 737-800's, one 757-200 and five 757-300.=20 Amtran's common stock trades on the Nasdaq Stock Market under the symbol = AMTR. ATA, now in its 29th year of operation, is the nation's 10th = largest passenger carrier based on revenue passenger miles and operates = significant scheduled service from Chicago-Midway and Indianapolis. As = of December 31, 2001 it has a fleet of 14 Boeing 737-800's, 15 Boeing = 757-200's, five Boeing 757-300's, 10 Boeing 727-200's, and 15 Lockheed = L1011's. Chicago Express Airlines, Inc., the wholly owned commuter = airline based at Chicago-Midway Airport, operates 11 Saab-340B's. The = entire fleet is supported by the Company's own maintenance and = engineering facilities in Indianapolis and Chicago-Midway and other = stations worldwide. You can learn more about ATA by visiting its website = at www.ata.com.=20