ATA quick with ads saying it isn't leaving Midway

BY LEWIS LAZARE SUN-TIMES COLUMNIST

It was almost impossible to miss the message if you tuned in to certain radio stations or television channels this past weekend: American Trans Air "absolutely" isn't leaving Chicago.

ATA and its ad agency of record Romani Bros./Chicago moved quickly last week to completely revamp the airline's advertising after news outlets trumpeted that the financially troubled carrier could pull out of Chicago's Midway Airport, where it is currently the dominant carrier.

Romani Bros. partner Denny Hebson wrote the copy for the new spots that broke last Thursday and were expected to end Monday. The revamped ads were inserted in display space and airtime already purchased, Hebson said. Going forward, ATA would revert to fare sale-focused advertising, Hebson said.

The radio and television executions were intended to ease any concerns travelers might have about ATA remaining in Chicago and to keep its ticket sales revenue stream flowing. The new ads also played off the carrier's ongoing tagline: "Go easy. Go ATA."

If ATA's financial situation were to worsen, however, some observers speculated the carrier could still sell its airport gates to another carrier and lease back some or all of them, potentially opening the door for new discount carrier(s) to enter the Midway arena.

Hebson said all signs he had from the carrier indicate it fully intends to remain in Chicago. He said Romani Bros. already is working on advertising for ATA's new business-class service expected to debut on aircraft operating out of Chicago no later than November. The first markets to get the business product in October will be Los Angeles, San Francisco and Honolulu.

"Pardon me - the White Cliffs of Dover, please!!

RETIRED AA PILOT BREAKS WORLD RECORD

Retired Capt. George Brunstad broke the world's record yesterday,becoming the oldest man ever to swim the English Channel. Just after 9 a.m. Saturday, 70-year-old Brunstad took a running leap into the waters off Dover, England, and never broke his pace. He reached the shores of France after swimming for 15 hours, 59 minutes, just beating by minutes the time set by the former oldest swimmer. Brunstad completed the swim in order to raise awareness and donations for a poverty-stricken Haitian community. "I did it because people were counting on me," says Brunstad. Donations will go towards the building of a Haitian school, clinic and orphanage.

For more information, visit http://www.channelhopeforhaiti.org

ATA says No Way!

ATA is downplaying talk that it might pullout of Chicago's Midway Airport

The Indianapolis-based low-fare airline is the airport's largest carrier, and ATA Chairman George Mikelsons said the airline plans to stay. "As indicated in our recent SEC filing, ATA is busy restructuring its finances," he said in a statement issued by the airline's public relations firm. "While engaged in that effort, we are not abandoning Chicago Midway, nor are we canceling any flights."

ATA has 14 gates at Midway, with flights from the airport accounting fortwo-thirds of ATA's scheduled passenger traffic. However, last week ATA, which has been hurt by rising jet fuel prices and high aircraft leases, reported that it had lost $90.7 million in the first six months of the year. ATA has restructured debt, and its 1,100 pilots have agreed to consider more financial concessions after agreeing last month to a package that will save about $43 million over two years.

The Chicago Tribune reported Wednesday that a person familiar with the situation, which it did not name, said ATA had received overtures about apossible sale of Chicago-based aircraft, as well as the gates it leases at Midway. Gates include passenger boarding areas. The city's Department of Aviation said the Midway gates were city property and that it could reclaim them if ATA reduced or ceased operations at the airport.

Aaron Gellman, a professor in Northwestern University's Transportation Center, said several other airlines might be interested in taking over theMidway gates, but that pulling out of Midway would make little sense for ATA. "I've never known a carrier to walk away from a principal traffic generator," he said. "It's very difficult for me to see how that could work, how ATA could survive it."

ATA has 7,900 employees, including 2,500 in Indianapolis.

Its nice to have money! 

Traveling on Southwest will never be the same 

Check out the gold sink! 

Fit for a Sultan 

Report: Two Russian Airliners Crash

MOSCOW - Two Russian airliners carrying a total of more than 100 people crashed almost simultaneously south of Moscow, the ITAR-Tass news agency reported Tuesday. There was no word on survivors.

The first plane was carrying 54 passengers and a crew of eight when it crashed in the Tula region near the village of Buchalki, the agencysaid, citing a duty officer at the regional center for civil defense and emergencies. The Tula region is about 110 miles south of Moscow.

The second plane was carrying 44 people when it crashed near Rostov, theagency said, citing an Inter-State Aviation Committee official. Rostovis about 600 miles south of Moscow.

Both planes were Tupolev Tu-154 jets, the standard medium-range airlineron domestic flights in Russia, other former Soviet states, Iran andparts of eastern Europe, according to the Web site Airliners.net.

In Washington, a senior U.S. State Department official said, "We areobviously concerned by the news. We're following developments closelyand trying to determine the facts."

Only at the Dream Cruise can you see this. A little red Isetta and Chrysler Maserati TC side by side. 

The Sacred Gin Mill Reopens

The Baby Doll or the Karolinka Polka Club

Monday was the hottest day in August and the door was wide open saving money by not using the AC.

Its nice to see that SOME THINGS NEVER CHANGE

The old place has been cleaned up, new tile on the floors, a new bar top and the juke box is gone. We met the owner and her nephews from Poland. She plans to have food and live music on the weekends. The price of the beer did not get any cheeper, and it did not get any colder.

Lets plan on giving it a try on Thursday!

My question is will Eddie Korosa ever play the Karolinka Club?

Cute girls at Dream Cruise 

Well at least I am in good company

The TSA must be picking on the Irish

Senator Ted Kennedy, the archetypal liberal Democrat from Massachusetts, is often called names by Republicans. But until this year he had never beenviewed as a threat to US air travel.

Kennedy -- one of the most recognizable figures in American politics -- told aSenate committee hearing on Thursday he had been blocked several times fromboarding commercial airline flights because his name was on a "no-fly" listintended to exclude potential terrorists.

The Senate Judiciary Committee heard Kennedy was eventually allowed on theflights, but it took numerous calls to the Department of Homeland Security toclear up the mistake and get his name off the list. Noting it had taken him weeks to resolve the matter, Kennedy wondered aloudhow difficult it might be for ordinary Americans to have their names removedif they were also mistakenly placed on the watch list.

A Kennedy spokesman said the whole thing had resulted from a simple error andhad not been politically motivated. Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge personally called Kennedy "to make surethat the situation was remedied," said a spokeswoman for Ridge's department

Do you think that Tom Ridge will make a call for me? I dont think so.

Sun smiles on 10th anniversary of Dream Cruise

Once again the venerable Chrysler TC by Maserati made its way to Detroit for the 10th anniversary of the Woodward Dream Cruise.

Myself, Big Bill, Mr. Bill and George had a day of cruising and beer drinking from our Woodward Avenue base at the Just Ducky's bar. This is the first year that Ducky's was charging to park in their lot. For $10.00 you had a place to park with the ability to go in and out at will.

Notable cruisers included an Avanti 4 door, 1959 Mercedes Gullwing, 1983 Caddillac Eldorado convertible, De Tomaso Mangusta, and plenty of 1960's Riveria's to keep George happy.

Read more HERE

Make plans to ride NYC Century Bike Tour on Sunday, September 12!

So here is the ride to do. Its in September and I can still do the Derby in May. Its not Bike New York but its close.

15 miles: A scenic and family-friendly tour from Central Park to Prospect Park, Frederick Law Olmsted?s green masterpieces. Enjoy riding the majestic avenues of Manhattan, across the world famous Brooklyn Bridge and through beautiful brownstone Brooklyn to the carousel in Prospect Park. End your trip at the park or take advantage of our free transportation back to the start in Central Park. Leave 7 am. Finish 10 am-1 pm.

35 miles: A combination of the 15 mile route and a trip around the world and through time via the fascinating neighborhoods near the East River in Brooklyn and Queens, including the museum district in Long Island City. Leave 7:30 am. Finish 11 am-3 pm.

55 miles: A very scenic combination of the 75/100 mile and 35 mile routes. Ride through culturally rich neighborhoods of Brooklyn (including Coney Island!), along the waterfront and under the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge to Canarsie Pier and up through the historic neighborhoods of upper Brooklyn and Queens. From bada bing to i-ching and everything in between. Leave 7 am. Finish 11 am-4 pm.

Any Takers?

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Midway Spotter Day One

Hi All

Welcome to my new blog. Here you will be able to find all about spotting at MDW. Drinking at MDW and where the Midway Spotters will be drinking at.

This should be fun

Walsh