[Letterhead of Amtran, Inc.]

                                                              September 11, 2000

               Re:     Amtran, Inc.
                       American Trans Air, Inc.
                       Registration Statement on Form S-4

Dear Sirs:

         I am the General Counsel of Amtran, Inc., an Indiana corporation (the
"Guarantor"), and American Trans Air, Inc., an Indiana Corporation ("ATA", and
together with the Guarantor, the "Company"), and am rendering this opinion in
connection with the Registration Statement on Form S-4 (the "Registration
Statement") of the Company, with respect to Pass Through Certificates, Series
2000-1G (the "New Series G Certificates"), and Pass Through Certificates, Series
2000-1C (the "New Series C Certificates", and together with the New Series G
Certificates, the "New Certificates"), to be offered in exchange for all
outstanding Pass Through Certficates, Series 2000-1G and 2000-1C (collectively,
the "Old Certificates"). Each of the New Class C Certificates and the New Class
G Certificates represents or will represent a fractional undivided interest in
the American Trans Air, Inc. 2000-1G-S Pass Through Trust and the American Trans
Air, Inc. 2002-1C-S Pass Through Trust (the "Trusts"), respectively. The Trusts
were formed pursuant to two separate pass-through trust agreements, each dated
as of February 15, 2000 (collectively, the "Pass Through Trust Agreements"),
between ATA and Wilmington Trust Company, as pass-through trustee under each
Trust (the "Trustee"). The applicable underlying payments on the New
Certificates will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed under the guarantee
agreement (the "Guarantee") by the Guarantor. The Old Certificates were
originally issued in a transaction exempt from the registration requirements of
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act").

         I have examined originals, or copies certified or otherwise identified
to my satisfication, of such documents, corporate records and other instruments
and made such other investigations as I have deemed necessary or advisable for
purposes of this opinion. Based thereon, I am of the opinion that:

         1. Each of the Guarantor and the Company is a corporation duly
     organized and validly existing under the laws of the State of Indiana.

         2. The Pass Through Trust Agreements have been duly authorized,
     executed and delivered by the Guarantor and/or the Company, as the case may
     be.












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         3. The Guarantee has been duly authorized and issued by the Guarantor.

         4. On the effective date of the Registration Statement, the New
     Certificates will have been duly authorized, executed, authenticated and
     delivered by each of the Company, the Guarantor and the Trustee.

         I am admitted to practice in the State of Indiana, and I express no
opinion as to matters governed by any laws other than the laws of the State of
Indiana and the Federal laws of the United States of America.

         I hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration statement. I also consent to the use of my name under the caption
"Legal Matters" in the Prospectus contained in the Registration Statement.

                                         Very truly yours,

                                         /s/  Brian T. Hunt

                                         Brian T. Hunt
                                         Vice President and General Counsel