American Trans Air: Out of business - all current and future flights canceled

If you have a flight with ATA Airlines today, prepare yourself for frustration. After filing for bankruptcy protection yesterday, ATA Airlines (Southwest codeshare partner) shut down operations suddenly this morning. Shortly after 3 am, ticket counters were lifeless, only a flier informing passengers they would not be boarding flights as planned.

The low-cost carrier, based in Indianapolis, serviced routes between Chicago Midway and Dallas, Oakland, Leaving on a jet plane?Guadalajara and Cancun (Mexico) as well as to Hawaii from Oakland, L.A., Phoenix and Las Vegas.

"ATA Airlines has been an outstanding partner for Southwest, and we are disappointed to hear this unfortunate news," Gary Kelly, Southwest Airlines Chief Executive Officer told PR Newswire. "We are sad to end our codeshare relationship with ATA but understand it's extremely difficult for an airline to flourish in today's arduous financial environment that has been plagued by soaring fuel prices."

Since 2005, Southwest and ATA Airlines have enjoyed a codeshare arrangement, which allowed the airlines to swap passengers and their checked baggage at Chicago Midway, Las Vegas McCarran, Phoenix Sky Harbor and Oakland. According to PR Newswire, Southwest also marketed and sold ATA-only flights.

ATA Airlines has posted a list of other airlines that may be willing to help with flight arrangements today. Southwest is already working on a plan and scrambling to rebook passengers as quickly as possible. They've set up a customer hotline regarding ATA flights at 1-800-308-5037.

If you bought your ticket using a credit card via a travel agent, you'll need to go back to the source for a refund. Cash or check customers can file a claim to the Chapter 11 proceedings for ATA.

ATA Airlines is a subsidiary of holding company Global Aero Logistics, a privately held company based in Peachtree City, Ga.

Do you have a flight booked on ATA?