*News Source Provided by ASTA Communications

Effective April 3, 2008, ATA Airlines has ceased operating and has cancelled all current and future flights. On April 2, 2008, ATA filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Indianapolis.

Customers who purchased Southwest Airlines tickets for flights operated by ATA should contact Southwest Airlines directly at (800) 308-5037 for rebooking information. According to Southwest, customers holding Southwest tickets for ATA code share flights will be rebooked "on a new itinerary closest to their previous travel plans, or offered a full refund for any unused portion of a ticket." Southwest's immediate focus will be on customers "who are scheduled to travel within the next 14 days."

Customers who purchased ATA tickets and made payment by credit card should contact their credit card company to dispute the charge. The Fair Credit Billing Act allows consumers to dispute charges for services that are not received. Details of fair credit billing can be found online.

Customers who purchased ATA tickets by cash, or whose credit card charge fall outside the Fair Credit Billing Act, will need to submit a claim in ATA's bankruptcy proceedings. Information about submitting a claim will be available here.

Currently there is no law that requires other airlines to accommodate affected passengers. Section 145 of the Aviation and Transportation Security Act, which required the airlines to accommodate affected passengers on a space available basis, expired on Nov. 30, 2006.

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