Midwest Airlines Midwest Miles (Pre-Alignment) - Republic adds more MKE nonstops

Welcome back SFO and RDU!


http://money.aol.com/rtn/pr/midwest-airlines-adds-more-milwaukee-nonstop-service/rfid269373666?channel=pf

I am enjoying the agressiveness that Republic is displaying.

Yeah, it's about time. Midwest needs to show the MKE market some love.

RDU has been a major gap in the MKE route map so I am glad to see that it's returning.

This is spectacular news...welcome back SFO!!!

I like how they put in the disclaimer that tickets have to be bought atleast 21 days in advance by November 30th for routes that dont even kick in until next April.

This brings to 8 the number of restored nonstop city pairs versus last September's cutbacks. (Actually if you compare to September it's 9 because MKE-MCO was also cut, but it was planned to come back seasonally.)

MKE-LAX
MKE-SFO
MKE-SDF
MKE-RSW
MKE-FLL
MKE-RDU
MKE-STL
MCI-RSW

I'm surprised to see Raleigh come back before Hartford, and still believe Seattle is coming this coming year. But I'm certainly happy to see SFO and RDU. Nice to see that RDU is an E170 rather than an RJ. Raleigh is not generally a high-yield market, but the volume can be decent. The lower costs of the E170 are a better fit.

Bryan Bedford indicated at the MMAC all-member meeting that Republic is considering adding six more routes, in addition to MKE-SFO and MKE-RDU announced today.

MKE-SEA is sure to be one of them, IMO.

I would love to see Southwest add MKE-OAK as well

Bryan Bedford indicated at the MMAC all-member meeting that Republic is considering adding six more routes, in addition to MKE-SFO and MKE-RDU announced today.

MKE-SEA is sure to be one of them, IMO.

I'd say the smart money would be on BDL, CWA, SEA, and SAN. For the other two, I guess it all depends on what aircraft is used. A strong case could be made for places like ABQ, SAT, IAH/HOU, or perhaps MIA.

As to the two new routes announced today, I was surprised SFO was included this early. I've heard over the last couple of months that CWA, BDL, and RDU would be bookable by year-end. That may still happen.

Bryan Bedford indicated at the MMAC all-member meeting that Republic is considering adding six more routes, in addition to MKE-SFO and MKE-RDU announced today.

MKE-SEA is sure to be one of them, IMO.

These speculations are always fun. I vote for....

Hartford
Seattle
San Diego
Wausau
Houston
Charlotte

Dark horses include San Antonio, Toronto, Portland, Albuquerque, Miami, and...yes...Baltimore. I'm not saying these are all winners, and some might be entered for reasons other than near-term profit (ahem...BWI). But if perhaps one of these was on the list of six potential, it wouldn't be completely outside of the realm of possibility.

I wonder if the "six" includes possible additions elsewhere, like MCI? MCI resumption to San Antonio and/or New Orleans seems like a decent shot. Republic doesn't seem especially thrilled with their smaller-RJ flying these days, which makes things like MCI-AUS and MCI-CMH less likely. But on the other hand if one of their major partners cuts out some RJ's, perhaps they'll come to the branded operation. (Republic's contract to fly for Continental is not being renewed, but Republic is able to return those CRJ's to the lessing company.)

I vote for....

Houston
Charlotte

Dark horses include San Antonio, Toronto, Portland, Albuquerque, Miami, and...yes...Baltimore. I'm not saying these are all winners, and some might be entered for reasons other than near-term profit (ahem...BWI).

Do you really think Houston and Charlotte are near the top for destinations to return? Houston might be workable on an E170, but Charlotte was a pulled before the price of oil really went crazy and the SkyWest fleet was reduced.

For awhile, I didn't think BWI had a chance of returning anytime soon. However, like you said, there may be some very good strategic reasons for adding it back. If nothing else, it would be fun to see Republic take a slap at both Southwest and AirTran.

Here are the top 50 local markets from Milwaukee from the 2nd quarter of this year. Note that Continental Express stats are not included, so I used the 2nd quarter of 2008 for CLE, EWR and IAH. Markets which connect significant passengers via CLE, EWR or IAH are underrepresented. A few city pairs to the east seemed to have very large drops from 2008 to 2009, making me wonder if perhaps the absense of CO* connections is the issue.

Markets in bold are not served nonstop from Milwaukee by Midwest.

1 ….. 960 ….. LAS
2 ….. 943 ….. LGA
3 ….. 934 ….. MCO
4 ….. 684 ….. ATL
5 ….. 596 ….. PHX
6 ….. 531 ….. TPA
7 ….. 528 ….. DEN
8 ….. 486 ….. BOS
9 ….. 483 ….. DCA
10 … 458 ….. LAX
11 … 408 ….. DFW
12 … 390 ….. MSP
13 … 375 ….. SFO
14 … 366 ….. EWR
15 … 356 ….. BWI
16 … 327 ….. RSW
17 … 279 ….. SEA
18 … 277 ….. PHL
19 … 276 ….. FLL
20 … 237 ….. SAN
21 … 221 ….. CLE
22 … 204 ….. IAH
23 … 193 ….. CLT
24 … 189 ….. MCI
25 … 153 ….. STL
26 … 124 ….. PDX
27 … 115 ….. SAT
28 … 113 ….. SNA
29 … 108 ….. DTW
30 … 108 ….. BNA
31 … 105 ….. CMH
32 ... 99 ….. RDU was 182.7 in summer 2008…continental issue?
33 ... 95 ….. MSY
34 ... 91 ….. JAX
35 ... 87 ….. PIT was 139.8 in summer 2008
36 ... 86 ….. SLC
37 ... 85 ….. SMF
38 ... 80 ….. SAV
39 ... 77 ….. MEM
40 ... 75 ….. OMA
41 ... 70 ….. MIA
42 ... 68 ….. AUS
43 ... 66 ….. ABQ
44 ... 66 ….. PBI
45 ... 63 ….. PNS
46 ... 58 ….. GSO
47 ... 57 ….. TUS
48 ... 57 ….. CHS
49 ... 54 ….. BDL was 143.6 in summer 2008…continental issue?
50 ... 51 ….. IND

This isn't by any means a perfect list of where they should / will go. There are issues of competition, distance, connection opportunities, yield, and seasonality to be aware of. But it gives some ideas.

I like how Midwest's route map is finally starting to fill in. I'm hoping for PDX and SLC as new YX stations in the future. I think and E190 will do well on those routes.

I like how Midwest's route map is finally starting to fill in. I'm hoping for PDX and SLC as new YX stations in the future. I think and E190 will do well on those routes.

SLC was a disaster for delta and they have a hub there. What makes you think that Midwest can fill over 90 seats on that route when Delta could not fill 50 seats?

Maybe MKE-PDX seasonally like May to early September but that is it.

SLC was a disaster for delta and they have a hub there. What makes you think that Midwest can fill over 90 seats on that route when Delta could not fill 50 seats?

Maybe MKE-PDX seasonally like May to early September but that is it.

Delta actually had very good loads on MKE-SLC. Unfortunately, the yields were terrible because most of the traffic on the route was connecting passengers.

I'd also like to see MKE-PDX. The route might be viable year-round if Republic flies it with an E170 during the winter months.

I thought there were strong rumors that GSO was going to get MKE and DEN service now that the Republic crew base (and maintenance base?) for some aircraft were going i there. Is this yet to be announced or was it only a rumor that will go unfulfilled.

The crew base at GSO will open sometime around MAR or APR. The maintenance base is already there...

Adding MKE-GSO would help me immensely, but I don't see it happening due to the fact that RDU is so close and they just announced the restoration of service there. In fact, if they really needed to rotate crew/aircraft through GSO it's probably cheaper just to fly an empty plane RDU-GSO than to fly a light load of passengers MKE-GSO.

I would think that GSO wouldn't necessarily be used as a primary work center for any of the Midwest or Frontier planes. Bedford stated that Milwaukee would see both Airbus and Embraer work, which I would think means at least the E190's if not E170's. The smaller RJ's already have four overnight cities with mx bases (CMH, IND, STL, PIT) and so they seem covered.

MKE-GSO is on the thin side for service, but Republic has good opportunity to route their planes through GSO which fly under the banners of other airlines like US.

The crew base at GSO will open sometime around MAR or APR. The maintenance base is already there...

Do you think the GSO will get service to MKE/DEN around that time? Were you hearing the same rumors or were they simply about new NC service (RDU)? Thanks for your feedback!

SNA anyone? Midwest or AirTran.

Always a great alternative to LAX.

SNA anyone? Midwest or AirTran.

Always a great alternative to LAX.

I think that Midwest tried that out an it did not work, people preferred LAX. i am partial to Long Beach although I know that it is impossible to get into that airport due to noise restrictions

What about San Jose or Oak as alternatives to SFO. I love OAK. The only good thing that SFO has going for it is BART

Do you think the GSO will get service to MKE/DEN around that time? Were you hearing the same rumors or were they simply about new NC service (RDU)? Thanks for your feedback!

I think what we have been hearing is the intention to have service to all crew and mx bases. I don't think that DEN will see service but I do believe that MKE and possible MCI (much later) will see service.

Its great that RDU is coming back.
CO and UA have had decent fares there, and CO has decent arrival times, even with connection times in CLE. Hopefully YX (or is it RW now...) can make it work. Or at least bottom out the fares for me for the next few months.

Its great that RDU is coming back.
CO and UA have had decent fares there, and CO has decent arrival times, even with connection times in CLE. Hopefully YX (or is it RW now...) can make it work. Or at least bottom out the fares for me for the next few months.

YX still schedules and prices their flights. Republic provides the planes and crews.

I think what we have been hearing is the intention to have service to all crew and mx bases. I don't think that DEN will see service but I do believe that MKE and possible MCI (much later) will see service.

Thanks cwe84...I was hoping for DEN service as that would provide great West Coast connections for travelers in a market where another option would be great. To me, it seems strang for them to have MKE service to both RDU and GSO, but we'd be glad to have it!! Fingers crossed.

I think that Midwest tried that out an it did not work, people preferred LAX. i am partial to Long Beach although I know that it is impossible to get into that airport due to noise restrictions


Midwest was at SNA for 18 months, via MCI. AirTran mentioned restoring service during the takeover attempt. Fares at SNA are higher, but people would pay it to avoid the congestion at LAX.

Midwest was at SNA for 18 months, via MCI. AirTran mentioned restoring service during the takeover attempt. Fares at SNA are higher, but people would pay it to avoid the congestion at LAX.

Even though orange county has nearly 3 million people in it I am yet to be convinced that it is a viable market for MKE. A Midwest MCI-SNA or an Airtran ATL-SNA would work. Come to think of it SNA would be a good launching pad for either airline to expand to Hawaii. Airtran's 737s should have the range. Alaska does it with 737-800s. I am not sure about the A319 though

Just a thought

Even though orange county has nearly 3 million people in it I am yet to be convinced that it is a viable market for MKE. A Midwest MCI-SNA or an Airtran ATL-SNA would work. Come to think of it SNA would be a good launching pad for either airline to expand to Hawaii. Airtran's 737s should have the range. Alaska does it with 737-800s. I am not sure about the A319 though

Just a thought

Airtran's 737's may have the range, but since they don't have over water routes its unlikely that there are any ETOPS certified ones. That cost alone may be enough to prevent flights to Hawaii, yields are horrible there anyway.

Thanks cwe84...I was hoping for DEN service as that would provide great West Coast connections for travelers in a market where another option would be great. To me, it seems strang for them to have MKE service to both RDU and GSO, but we'd be glad to have it!! Fingers crossed.

I think it will boil down to the financial incentives that GSO is willing to give. I can see a 2-3x to DEN/MKE/MCI... Just depends on how the negotiation will go. I think it has a shot since we are adding a large crew base there and expanding the mx base too. We wont be creating many jobs but ther is a lot of room for growth. The thing with GSO is that it captures from ROA/LYH/CLT/RDU areas. It will be a Jerry McGuire for sure!

Even though orange county has nearly 3 million people in it I am yet to be convinced that it is a viable market for MKE. A Midwest MCI-SNA or an Airtran ATL-SNA would work. Come to think of it SNA would be a good launching pad for either airline to expand to Hawaii. Airtran's 737s should have the range. Alaska does it with 737-800s. I am not sure about the A319 though

Just a thought

Alaska does not fly Orange County-Hawaii. They don't have the correct aircraft to properly serve the route and make a profit. The main reason for this is that the runway at SNA is very short and any flights to Hawaii with 737-800s would be weight restricted.

The main reason for this is that the runway at SNA is very short and any flights to Hawaii with 737-800s would be weight restricted.

I can recall some steep climb outs at SNA due to noise abatement rules.

Alaska does not fly Orange County-Hawaii. They don't have the correct aircraft to properly serve the route and make a profit. The main reason for this is that the runway at SNA is very short and any flights to Hawaii with 737-800s would be weight restricted.

I was talking about the fact that Alaska flies from the west coast to Hawaii using a 737 most carriers use a 757 or a 767