Editing ATA Airlines (section)

==Codeshare agreements==
At the time of its shutdown, ATA Airlines had a [[codeshare]] agreement with [[Southwest Airlines]]. As far back as 2001, ATA explored a passenger sharing agreement, with a now defunct airline called [[Access Air]] which also had midwestern United States flight operations. This agreement was short lived due to the tedious economic condition of this post deregulation "start up" carrier.<ref>[http://www.radioiowa.com/gestalt/go.cfm?objectid=CE2CDD78-D484-4031-A75B3ED232AB9004] {{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/FEATURE%2FCoast+to+Coast+on+Corporate+Coach:+AccessAir+Targets+the...-a055748768 |title=FEATURE/Coast to Coast on Corporate Coach: AccessAir Targets the Business Traveler with No Advance Purchase and Reasonable Fares. - Free Online Library |publisher=Thefreelibrary.com |date=September 15, 1999 |access-date=August 9, 2013 |archive-date=February 22, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222141826/http://www.thefreelibrary.com/FEATURE%2FCoast+to+Coast+on+Corporate+Coach:+AccessAir+Targets+the...-a055748768 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Ruan Inc. offers funding for AccessAir's return to passenger services.|url=http://www.allbusiness.com/operations/shipping-air-freight/545040-1.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20070620160653/http://www.allbusiness.com/operations/shipping-air-freight/545040-1.html|archive-date=June 20, 2007|access-date=October 28, 2007}}</ref> The [[ATA Connection]] service flown by commuter air carrier [[Chicago Express Airlines]] was also operated on a codeshare basis.

ATA was not involved in an [[Airline alliance|alliance]].

===Southwest Airlines===

ATA Airlines, one of [[Southwest Airlines]]' main competitors in the Chicago market, historically operated out of [[Chicago Midway International Airport|Midway Airport]] alongside Southwest. After ATA declared bankruptcy in 2004, Southwest injected capital into ATA that (among other things) would have resulted in Southwest's 27.5% ownership stake in ATA upon their exit from Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings.

In a departure from its traditional "go it alone" strategy,{{Citation needed|date=July 2007}} Southwest entered into its first domestic [[codesharing]] arrangement with ATA, which enabled Southwest Airlines to serve ATA markets in [[Hawaii]], [[Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport|Washington D.C.]], and [[LaGuardia Airport|New York City]]. Some years earlier, Southwest had a short-lived traditional [[codeshare]] arrangement with [[Icelandair]] at [[Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport|Baltimore/Washington International Airport]].

In late 2005, ATA secured $100 million in committed financing from the firm of [[MatlinPatterson]], and Southwest's original deal with ATA was modified such that Southwest no longer retained the 27.5% stake (or any other financial interest), in ATA. The [[codeshare]] arrangement was expanded, with some internal controversy, to include all of ATA's domestic destinations and more than 60 of Southwest's 63 destinations. In 2006, Southwest's pilot union approved a [[codeshare]] sideletter to their contract with limitations on the growth of this and other [[codeshare]] agreements. While these restrictions today are minor, outsourcing remains a growing concern in the unions' current contract negotiations.

In 2006, Southwest Airlines [[flight number|(Flight]] [[Airline codes-S|Code WN)]] began marketing ATA's two-letter [[Flight number|TZ Coded Flights]]. ATA's dependence on the Southwest network continued to grow in 2006 to where ATA offered over 70 flights a week to Hawaii from Southwest's [[focus city|focus cities]] in PHX, LAS, LAX, and OAK. Additional connecting service was available to many other cities across the United States. Plans had been announced for ATA to offer exclusive international service for Southwest by 2010. In 2006, ATA announced its intention to purchase nine widebody DC-10 aircraft from Northwest Airlines. Southwest took over all ground operations for ATA at MDW, OAK, PHX, LAX, and LAS. These contracts provided that Southwest ramp personnel would now handle all ground operations for ATA (loading of aircraft, ground servicing, etc.). The details of these contracts were not made public, but represented Southwest's and ATA's growing [[codeshare]] relationship.

In February 2005, after [[J. George Mikelsons]] stepped down as CEO of ATA Airlines, [[John G. Denison|John Denison]], Southwest's former Chief Financial Officer took over. Effective January 1, 2007, Denison turned things over to [[Subodh Karnik]], who became president and chief executive officer. Denison remained Chairman of [[Global Aero Logistics Inc.]], and was renamed as interim President and CEO when Subodh Karnik stepped down in March 2008.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.globalaerologistics.com/News/tabid/1380/ctl/ViewPressRelease/mid/3283/PressReleaseID/654/Default.aspx |title=Karnik steps down as CEO; Denison named interim President/CEO |publisher=Globalaerologistics.com |access-date=August 9, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080623070448/http://www.globalaerologistics.com/News/tabid/1380/ctl/ViewPressRelease/mid/3283/PressReleaseID/654/Default.aspx |archive-date=June 23, 2008 }}</ref><ref>[http://goliath.ecnext.com/coms2/gi_0199-2220930/AMERICAN-AIR-TO-BE-SOLD.html] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080511060633/http://goliath.ecnext.com/coms2/gi_0199-2220930/AMERICAN-AIR-TO-BE-SOLD.html|date=May 11, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=http://southflorida.bizjournals.com/southflorida/stories/2002/11/04/daily56.html | title=American Eagle to sell Executive Airlines | date=November 6, 2002}}</ref>