ATA losses continue to mount INDIANAPOLIS (AP) =97 The parent company of American Trans Air lost nearly= =20 $61 million in the third quarter, topping a poor second quarter when it=20 lost $58 million. Company officials said they were unsure when business=20 would recover. "The environment is the most difficult I have seen in more=20 than 30 years in the business," said George Mikelsons, chairman and chief=20 executive of Indianapolis-based ATA Holdings Inc. The loss was compounded=20 by $34.3 million in one-time expense charges, related to sales of Boeing=20 727 aircraft and an accounting write-down of its Lockheed L-1011 fleet. In= =20 the second quarter, ATA took more than $35 million in one-time charges. The= =20 company lost $5.18 per share for the year, compared to no change a year ago. Despite the steep loss, company sales of $317.3 million were down just 1.3= =20 percent over the third quarter of 2001. But the 2001 quarter itself was=20 down 7.5 percent over 2000 when air travel dropped dramatically after the=20 Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Revenues increased 11.1 percent for scheduled=20 passenger service, from $208.5 million to $231.6 million. But the company's= =20 non-military charter business fell more than 61 percent, from $53.3 million= =20 to $20.6 million. During the past few months, ATA has taken several steps= =20 to reduce expenses, including laying off about 200 workers and leaving=20 about 350 vacancies unfilled. ATA is the nation's 10th-largest U.S. carrier= =20 based on revenue passenger miles and is the largest North American operator= =20 of commercial and military charters. ATA operates hubs at Chicago's Midway= =20 Airport and Indianapolis International Airport. The owner of Roger's Trinbago Site: Roj (Roger James) *************************************************** escape email mailto:ejames@escape.ca Trinbago site: http://www.tntisland.com CBC Website http://www.tntisland.com/caribbeanbrassconnection/ The Trinbago Site of the Week: (I95.5FM) http://www.i955fm.com (Radio Station I95.5FM) courtesy of Roj Trinbago Website & TnT Web Directory Roj's Trinbago Website: http://www.tntisland.com TnT Web Directory: http://search.co.tt *********************************************************