Exhibit 99


For Immediate Release                   Contact: Rick DeLisi
October 6, 2003           Director, Corporate Communications
Page 1 of 1                                   (703) 650-6550

    Atlantic Coast Airlines Response to Unsolicited Offer
                      By Mesa Air Group

Dulles,  VA,  (October  6, 2003) - Atlantic  Coast  Airlines
Holdings,  Inc.  ("ACA" or the "Company") (NASDAQ/NM:  ACAI)
confirms that its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer today
received  an  unsolicited letter from Mesa Air  Group,  Inc.
("Mesa")  proposing that Mesa acquire ACA  in  an  all-stock
transaction  at the rate of 0.9 of a share of Mesa's  common
stock for each share of ACA's common stock.  ACA's Board  of
Directors  was copied on this letter and is now  considering
the  offer.   While  it  undertakes  this  review  ACA  will
continue   with  its  current  operations   and   with   the
implementation  of  its plans to operate as  an  independent
airline.

Statements  in this press release and by company  executives
regarding the proposal received by the Company from Mesa Air
Group,  Inc.  and  other matters may contain forward-looking
information  about  the  Company.  A  number  of  risks  and
uncertainties  exist which could cause the Company's  actual
performance  to differ materially from information  provided
by   the  Company  or  its  executives.   These  risks   and
uncertainties include, among others, the costs of  reviewing
and  responding to the unsolicited offer, and other  impacts
of  the offer on the Company's operations.   Other risks and
uncertainties  relating  to  the  Company's   business   and
operations include those referred to in the Company's report
on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2003.

ACA   currently  operates  as  United  Express   and   Delta
Connection  in the Eastern and Midwestern United  States  as
well  as  Canada.  The company also operates charter flights
as   ACA   Private  Shuttle.   ACA  has  a  fleet   of   146
aircraft-including  118  jets-and  offers  over  830   daily
departures, serving 84 destinations.

On  July  28,  2003, ACA announced it anticipates  that  its
longstanding relationship with United Airlines will end, and
that  it  will establish a new, independent low-fare airline
to be based at Washington Dulles International Airport.

Atlantic   Coast   Airlines  employs  over  4,800   aviation
professionals.  The common stock of parent company  Atlantic
Coast  Airlines  Holdings, Inc.  is  traded  on  the  Nasdaq
National  Market under the symbol ACAI. For more information
about ACA, visit our website at www.atlanticcoast.com.

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