ATA Announces New Service and Increased Frequencies from Newark; Carrier to Offer 19 Daily Flights to the New York Metropolitan Area.

Business Editors

INDIANAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 28, 2003

Travel from the New York metro area is about to get better. ATA (ATA Airlines, Inc.), (Nasdaq:ATAH) today announced plans to launch daily, nonstop round-trip service between Newark and San Francisco, beginning Oct. 26, 2003. The carrier will offer two flights daily on this coast-to-coast route, giving customers in both cities convenient access and schedule flexibility. The new service will be operated on ATA's new Boeing 737-800 and 757-300 aircraft. Comfortable and spacious, these aircraft boast all-leather seats, adjustable headrests, large overhead bins and in-flight digital audio/video systems. Tickets are now available for purchase.

ATA's fares for this new route exhibit the carrier's commitment to deliver an "Honestly Different" choice to its customers. ATA's fully refundable walk-up fare of $249(a) each way from Newark to San Francisco International Airport is 80 percent lower than the lowest fully refundable walk-up fare of $1,218 each way on other nonstop Newark-San Francisco carriers.

"ATA is seizing the opportunity to become the preferred low-cost carrier in the New York metro area," said John Happ, ATA's Senior Vice President of Marketing and Sales. "We're launching an "Honest Growth, Coast to Coast" initiative to provide our customers with better choices and more flexibility at ATA's everyday affordable prices."

ATA is not only making such an announcement in Newark, but in three additional cities where the airline is adding frequencies and routes. The announcement takes place as the carrier celebrates its second anniversary of service at Newark Liberty International Airport.

In addition to the new Newark-San Francisco route, the carrier will offer even more schedule flexibility by increasing the number of flights offered between Newark and Chicago-Midway. The frequency of flights will double, from 20 flights per week to 40 flights per week by Oct. 26, 2003. ATA still offers a fully refundable $199(a) each way walk-up fare from both Newark and LaGuardia to Chicago. And, as always, ATA's flights are never priced higher than $299 each way within the Continental U.S.

ATA continues to operate eight daily non-stops between LaGuardia and Chicago-Midway. ATA passengers traveling from the greater New York metropolitan area will now have 14 nonstop flight choices to Chicago every business day with the additions to ATA's schedule from Newark, as well as three nonstop daily flights from LaGuardia to Indianapolis. Overall, ATA will operate 19 flights from the New York metropolitan area, including flights to the West Coast.

Now celebrating its 30th year of operation, ATA is the nation's 10th largest passenger carrier based on revenue passenger miles. ATA operates significant scheduled service from Chicago-Midway, Indianapolis, St. Petersburg, Fla., San Francisco and Los Angeles to over 40 business and vacation destinations. Stock of the Company's parent company, ATA Holdings Corp., is traded on the Nasdaq Stock Market under the symbol "ATAH." For more information about the Company, visit the web site at www.ata.com.

(a) These fares do not include a $3 federal excise tax that will

be imposed on each flight segment of your itinerary. A flight

segment is defined as a takeoff and a landing. Fares are not

generally available during high-volume travel periods. Fares

are subject to change without notice. Seats are limited and

may not be available on all flights and dates. $249 fare is

only available for nonstop flights between Newark and San

Francisco. A passenger facility charge of up to $18 per

round-trip is not included in the fares. All other normal

restrictions apply. Some flights are operated by ATA

Connection (doing business as Chicago Express Airlines, Inc.).

A photo I.D. is required for flight check-in. Travelers who

are deaf and hearing impaired, call TTY 800-293-6194.