DALLAS, Dec. 10 (UPI) -- Southwest Airlines Friday announced plans to bid on some assets of bankrupt ATA Airlines, including six gates at Chicago's Midway Airport.
As part of the bid, Southwest would enter into a code share agreement with ATA covering some flights from Midway to about nine ATA domestic nonstop destinations, the company said.
"We are very excited about the opportunity to grow further at Chicago Midway Airport, by acquiring necessary airport gates and by code sharing with ATA," said Gary Kelly, Southwest's chief executive officer.
AirTran was also a possible bidder for some of the 14 ATA gates at Midway, USA Today reported.
America West has dropped plans to enter a bid for the assets of ATA, which filed for bankruptcy-court protection in October.
Southwest, the nation's leading low-fare airline, already dominates Midway, but the airline has been expanding its operations at Chicago's second airport.
