New Midwest Airlines Schedule Eliminates Service to Three Cities, Retains Service to 32

Milwaukee-based Midwest Airlines has announced its flight schedule for September 8 and beyond. The schedule retains service to 32 cities, including both coasts. It also includes an expansion of Midwest’s codeshare agreement with Northwest Airlines, adding more than 100 new city pairs to the program.

“We will remain true to our mission of serving major business destinations with more nonstop flights from Milwaukee than any other airline,” said Timothy E. Hoeksema, chairman and chief executive officer. “From Kansas City, we will continue to serve as an important resource for the business community, with flights to key East and West Coast cities. While there will be adjustments to frequency in some of these markets, we will continue to offer convenient service and the unparalleled customer service our passengers expect from us.”

Midwest Airlines will eliminate service to three airports: Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.; Ft. Myers, Fla.; and San Diego. Additionally, service to two West Coast destinations — Los Angeles and Seattle/Tacoma — will now be offered via Kansas City year-round, in the same way the airline currently offers service to San Francisco. Service on the Milwaukee-Los Angeles and Milwaukee-Seattle/Tacoma routes will be one-stop in both directions, requiring no change of aircraft for passengers.

Service to Orlando will now be offered seasonally during peak travel months. This season, nonstop Milwaukee-Orlando service will commence Oct. 21, 2008 and end April 30, 2009. As Midwest transitions to seasonal Orlando service, it will suspend service to that city from Sept. 8 through Oct. 20. Nonstop service between Kansas City and Orlando will be discontinued, but Kansas City-Orlando service will continue to be available via Milwaukee.

The airline will also discontinue service to eight airports currently served by its Midwest Connect regional jet service: Baltimore; Hartford, Conn.; Louisville, Ky.; Muskegon, Mich.; Raleigh/Durham, N.C.; St. Louis; San Antonio; and Wausau/Stevens Point, Wis. Additionally, it will discontinue its nonstop Kansas City-Madison, Wis. route, but will continue to offer the service via Milwaukee.

The schedule is a major component of Midwest’s overall restructuring plan, necessitated by record fuel prices and the company’s previously announced decision to ground its MD-80 fleet.

Codeshare Expansion

Additionally, Midwest said that it is expanding its codeshare agreement with Northwest Airlines to include service to more than 100 new city pairs. The Midwest Airlines “YX” code will be offered on Northwest-operated routes to destinations beyond Northwest’s hubs at Detroit, Minneapolis/St. Paul and Memphis throughout the United States. Under the codeshare agreement, passengers can book their entire flight on a single ticket, with all segments earning mileage credit in either the Midwest Miles or Northwest WorldPerks(R) frequent flyer programs. The new city options will be announced and added to Midwest’s schedule throughout July for travel beginning in late July.

Earlier phases of the Midwest/Northwest codeshare agreement — which began in late 2007 — included service from Indianapolis to 14 cities throughout the country, service from major West Coast cities to points in Hawaii, and the Northwest code on a number of Midwest-operated flights. The codeshare is expected to eventually add hundreds of new city pairs and flight options for travelers, greatly expanding the networks of both airlines.

Source: Midwest Airlines

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