Aloha saying 'goodbye' to bankruptcy, ATA to follow

Josh Roberts believes the best trips involve long hikes and muddy boots. His life goals haven't changed much since he was a kid: He still wants to be Indiana Jones when he grows up.

Follow him on Twitter (@joshwhowrites) and Instagram (@joshwhowrites), and visit his website (joshrobertsbooks.com) or Goodreads page to learn more about his forthcoming novel.

Josh joined SmarterTravel in 2001, and is an active member in both the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) and the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI).

In addition to SmarterTravel, he has written for USA Today, The Boston Globe, Yahoo! Travel, The Huffington Post, Airfarewatchdog, TripAdvisor, Jetsetter, ABC News, Oyster, and Business Insider. His travel photography can be seen in Britain and Ireland's Best Wild Places, published by Penguin UK.

The Handy Item I Always Pack: "A lacrosse ball. It's small, lightweight, and works wonders on loosening up tight muscles."

Ultimate Bucket List Experience: "Being the first to discover an ancient lost city. Failing that, visiting as many of the already-discovered ancient ruins as possible."

Travel Motto: "Not all those who wander are lost." -J.R.R. Tolkien

Aisle, Window, or Middle Seat: "Aisle."

See recent posts by Josh Roberts

Honolulu-based Aloha Airlines expects to emerge from bankruptcy protection later this month according to a report by The Associated Press. The airline received court approval of its amended reorganization plan on February 2. David Banmiller, Aloha’s president and CEO, says, “We’ve cleared all the hurdles and we are hopeful we will have our new funding in mid-February.”

Meanwhile, low-cost carrier ATA—benefiting greatly from its codeshare arrangement with Southwest—is set to shed its bankruptcy shackles on February 28. The move will end 14 months of strife for the troubled airline.

Both announcements come on the heels of United’s recent exit from bankruptcy protection. The news isn’t all sunshine and roses for the industry, though. Both Delta and Northwest are still under bankruptcy protection, with no immediate end in sight for either.

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