ATA plans U.S.- Europe budget flights Monday, June 28, 2004 Posted: 11:47 AM EDT (1547 GMT) ATA is the country's 10th-largest carrier with a fleet of 66 planes. BUSINESS TRAVELLER Are you an executive on the go? Click here for stories YOUR E-MAIL ALERTS Biz Traveller Air Transportation ATA Holdings Corporation Airlines or Create your own Manage alerts | What is this? COLOGNE, Germany (Reuters) -- U.S. low-cost carrier ATA Airlines plans to fly to destinations in Europe starting next year and is negotiating with German airport Cologne-Bonn, said the company. "We want to fly to two or three European cities, and are currently in intensive talks concerning this," ATA Vice President Douglas Yakota told reporters in Cologne. He added that Germany, and in particular the Cologne-Bonn airport due to its success in low-cost travel, were high on the list of potential destinations. German long-haul charter carrier LTU reacted sharply to these plans, underscoring intense competition in the beleaguered airline industry. "You have to assume that we'll come with a corresponding offer for the same price and possibly better quality," said LTU managing director Juergen Marbach. ATA parent ATA Holdings Corp. last month reported its quarterly net loss widened to $64.7 million from $11.4 million. Roger EWROPS