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Midwest's owner, Republic Airways Holdings, replaces Boeing 717s, legacy crews
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After the last Midwest Airlines flight on a Boeing 717 jet taxis to the gate at General Mitchell International Airport on Monday night, Nov. 2, the airline's remaining Midwest legacy pilots and flight attendants will be laid off along with dozens of local employees.
Republic Airways Holdings has almost completed Midwest's transformation from Milwaukee's hometown airline to virtual airline, or a brand name with a local business address, according to BizTimes.com's Milwaukee Biz Blog.
Midwest is in the final stages of completing the switchover to fuel-efficient aircraft operated by less expensive crews. Ninety-nine seat Embraer 190 and 76-seat Embraer 170 aircraft, operated by Republic Airlines crews, and 136-seat Airbus A-319s operated by Frontier Airlines (also acquired by Republic in August of 2009) will fly most of the longer routes.
Midwest's Frontier-operated flights are codeshares, meaning they will be listed under both Midwest and Frontier flight numbers. Passengers for Midwest's flights on Airbus A-319 aircraft will check in with Frontier and will find themselves flying out of MKE on Frontier's animal-themed aircraft.
Midwest Airlines has already transitioned the operation of its shorter flights to Embraer 145 and 135 aircraft, operated by Chautauqua Airlines crews. Midwest Connect flights have been flown by SkyWest Airlines crews on 50-seat CRJ200 aircraft since April, 2008.
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel newspaper reports that the unusually rapid pace of big changes at GMIA has made most customers happier by lowering airfares and that few passengers will miss the "old Midwest's" 21.5-inch wide leather seats.
However Milwaukeeans will probably lament the loss of Midwest Airline's signiture chocolate-chip cookies if Republic ever discontinues serving them.
A "SaveTheCookie" campaign in Milwaukee and on the internet rallied support against a failed 2007 buyout by AirTran Holdings, Inc., the owner of AirTran Airways. But Midwest Airlines was acquired by TPG Capital (and Northwest Airlines, now owned by Delta Airlines) in February of 2008.
So far, Republic Airways Holdings has continued serving the famous fresh-baked chocolate-chip cookies after acquiring Midwest Airlines for $31 million in July, 2009.
The Milwaukee edition of The Business Journal reports that Midwest Airlines will lay off 166 pilots, flight attendants, and local employees by Dec. 1, 2009.
Other recent airfare lowering changes at GMIA include the expansion of service by AirTran Airways in 2008-2009 and the arrival of Southwest Airlines, Nov. 1, 2009.
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