<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> (Replace this text with the legend) </LEGEND> <CIK> 0000904020 <NAME> ATLANTIC COAST AIRLINES, INC. <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <CURRENCY> US DOLLARS <PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1997 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1.000 <CASH> 39,167 <SECURITIES> 10,737 <RECEIVABLES> 21,890 <ALLOWANCES> (269) <INVENTORY> 2,477 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 76,857 <PP&E> 49,364 <DEPRECIATION> (8,726) <TOTAL-ASSETS> 148,992 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 31,680 <BONDS> 73,855 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 40,471 <OTHER-SE> (5,666) <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 148,992 <SALES> 202,540 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 205,444 <CGS> 176,501 <TOTAL-COSTS> 176,501 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 3,450 <INCOME-PRETAX> 26,839 <INCOME-TAX> 12,339 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 14,500 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 14,500 <EPS-PRIMARY> 1.85 <EPS-DILUTED> 1.61