Former ATA Moving Machinist Base to Texas

By Erika D. Smith, The Indianapolis Star

Jul. 3–Hometown airline ATA Holdings, now Global Aero Logistics, will shed the last of its maintenance operations at Indianapolis International Airport by Nov. 1.

“We’re winding down our operations here because we don’t fly out of here anymore,” said Maya Wagle, a spokeswoman for the airline. “It’s an unfortunate and very sad decision.”

Global Aero, then ATA, ended scheduled airline service to Indianapolis in January 2006.

“We have to watch costs and the bottom line,” Wagle said.

The airline will drop 18 positions here, but 15 will be transferred to Dallas/FortWorth International Airport. Wagle said current employees will be able to reapply.

In recent months, Global Aero has moved pilots to Phoenix and other locations, resulting in almost as many pilots based on the coasts as in Indianapolis.

Also, on July 18, World Air Holdings shareholders are scheduled to meet and approve its acquisition by Global Aero for $315 million. World Air is based in Peachtree City, Ga., near Atlanta’s Hartsfield International Airport.

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