SOURCE: USA Today http://www.usatoday.com/money/biztravel/2004-10-26-ata-airline-bankruptcy_x= =2Ehtm ATA Airlines files for bankruptcy protection INDIANAPOLIS (AP) =E2=80=94 ATA Airlines, the nation's 10th-largest airline= , filed for=20 bankruptcy protection Tuesday, one day after naming an executive to oversee= =20 the restructuring of the discount carrier's mounting debt. The filing under Chapter 11 of the federal bankruptcy code came as the=20 Indianapolis-based airline faces soaring fuel costs, an industry fare war a= nd=20 sharply lower demand for military charter flights. ATA also is saddled with millions of dollars in debt from new aircraft=20 purchases. In recent weeks the company has announced plans to cut more than 300 jobs,= =20 including 150 flight attendants. So far this year, ATA pilots and flight=20 attendants have accepted nearly $70 million in wage concessions. In an SEC filing last week, ATA said its finances have worsened since Aug. = 16,=20 when it reported that it had lost $90.7 million during the first half of=20 2004.=20