I assume this is one of the recommendations from Seabury, the consultant brought in to help stop (or at least slow) the bleeding. I suspect there will be further recommendations that we'll be hearing about in the coming days.
With the grounding of the MD80s, that will mean YX will be forced to have one-stop service to the west coast from Milwaukee. The 717s can only make it if the loads are light, which isn't an option unless fares rise drastically.
For the good of travelers in the Milwaukee area, let's hope Midwest can find some way to survive. The future looks pretty grim.
Programs: United 1k, Midwest Miles, VX eleVAte, Hilton Diamond VIP
Posts: 1,204
Quote:
Originally Posted by mke9499
I hope they are not planning on using codeshare with NW for the long haul flights, with connections at IND.
I wonder if the mysterious "Father's Day" MKE-LAX 717 nonstop was somehow related to the decision to park the MD80s.
Word began leaking out earlier this week that the MD80s were going to be parked. There will be additional news coming as well.
I'm not sure what the "Father's Day" 717 flight was all about, but Midwest has sent the 717 on the MKE-SEA before when loads were lights and conditions were favorable. The 717s that Midwest currently has can't fly to the West Coast non-stop on a regularly scheduled basis.
I've got to catch a flight but will post more later.
__________________ If you don't know where you are going, you might end up someplace else.
Programs: Delta Gold Medallion,AA,USairways,Midwest Airlines, National Emerald Club
Posts: 1,429
Quote:
Originally Posted by BlueHorseShoe2000
but Midwest has sent the 717 on the MKE-SEA before when loads were lights and conditions were favorable. The 717s that Midwest currently has can't fly to the West Coast non-stop on a regularly scheduled basis.
.
At worst all West Coast flying will have a one stop in Kansas City. Sad for Milwaukee, infrequent Midwest non-stops to the West coast.
Programs: Midwest Miles, Northwest World Perks, Alaska Air Mileage Plan, VX eleVAte, Airtran A+Reward
Posts: 1,032
This is expected but still bad news. I hope that Midwest can continue to be a viable airline but with no non stop service to the west coast from Milwaukee they will be easy pickings for their competitors.
This is a little bit of an odd comment, but I wonder if they'll be able to convert the 717s to mixed seating faster by taking the 3-by-2 seats out of the MD80s and transferring them to the 717s.
You would think they could do that almost immediately and not wait for new seats from Recaro.
Parking 1/3 of your fleet is not the way to survive. IMHO. I think it would be a natural to code with NW on some of these flights through MSP. I fly NW anyway to PHX and LAS, because YX has just become too undependable.
Other than the obvious cutting of the nonstop west coast flights (MKE-LAX which is year-round, and seasonal MKE-SFO and MKE-SEA) they could cover the rest of their network with relatively minor trimming here and there.
Other than the obvious cutting of the nonstop west coast flights (MKE-LAX which is year-round, and seasonal MKE-SFO and MKE-SEA) they could cover the rest of their network with relatively minor trimming here and there.
What about Vegas and Phoenix? Can the 717's make the trip? if not Midwest will be conceding a very large market to it's competitors.
I wonder how fast the MD80 grounding will happen? AirTran may rethink their MKE seasonal routes after all and keep flying through the winter months. Its a dog eat dog world out there and if AirTran can't capitalize on this opportunity, they are giving Midwest a free pass if you ask me. This is going to be interesting to watch. As I said in a previous post, at least have a plan on replacing the MD80s if you are going to ground them!
Additional info from Milwaukee Journal Sentinel this noon:
FRIDAY, June 20, 2008, 12:15 p.m.
By Tom Daykin
Midwest Airlines to park 12 MD-80 jets
Midwest Airlines Inc., hurt by high fuel costs, plans to drop a large portion of its fleet: a dozen MD-80 jets that provide charter service as well as regular passenger service to leisure destinations.
That word came today as Midwest executives met with employees about the fleet change. More details probably won't be available until next week, but it's a "virtual certainty" that the MD-80 jets will be taken out of service in the relative near future, company spokesman Michael Brophy said.
Midwest's main fleet consists of 25 Boeing 717 jets, which are much more fuel-efficient than the MD-80s. Midwest uses two to three MD-80 jets for charter service, with nine jets for regular passenger service, he said. The MD-80s are used on long-haul routes and leisure destinations, with Los Angeles, San Francisco, Phoenix, Ariz., and Orlando, Fla., among their destinations.
Brophy declined comment on how Midwest will replace the aircraft on those affected routes. He also said it was too soon to discuss any possible job cuts as a result of the move.
Midwest and other carriers are already reducing routes and trimming jobs because of soaring fuel costs. In April, Midwest said it would cut 109 employees, amounting to a 3.5% work force reduction. Most of the service cuts are scheduled to take place after the peak summer travel season.
Programs: Midwest Miles, Northwest World Perks, Alaska Air Mileage Plan, VX eleVAte, Airtran A+Reward
Posts: 1,032
Quote:
Originally Posted by flyYX
I wonder how fast the MD80 grounding will happen? AirTran may rethink their MKE seasonal routes after all and keep flying through the winter months. Its a dog eat dog world out there and if AirTran can't capitalize on this opportunity, they are giving Midwest a free pass if you ask me. This is going to be interesting to watch. As I said in a previous post, at least have a plan on replacing the MD80s if you are going to ground them!
I don't know if Airtran has the frequent flyer base and connections in the Milwaukee community to make these routes work? I could only see MKE-LAX staying year round. The other routes are highly seasonal.
It will be brutual for passengers stopping in KC from Milwaukee to the West Coast because KC's airport offers no amenities at all.
On one-stop flights at KCI you generally don't get off the aircraft. It's usually a pretty short stop.
On connections, of course, your time at KCI could be longer. You usually have to leave the secure gate area there if you want to buy things. There are bathrooms inside, and if I recall there is a kiosk at KCI inside the secure area for Midwest, but no restaurants or real stores.
I hope that Midwest can continue to be a viable airline but with no non stop service to the west coast from Milwaukee they will be easy pickings for their competitors.
