Flights will operate with the YX* code, Midwest Airlines operated by Republic, Chautauqua, or Frontier. The disappearance of the 717 doesn't change that.


I'm sure you've just baited a few of our select participants with that question. However here's my take on it.

Since the first YX* flight 20+ years ago:

--When discussing the brand, the hub, the flight offerings, the market share, the marketing, and all those aspects, Midwest (or back then Midwest Express) meant both YX and YX*, whether it was outsourced (Mesa, Skywest) or owned by Midwest (Astral Aviation, dba Midwest Connect). The ownership or certificate wasn't mentioned when discussing in any of these sorts of contexts.

--When talking about corporate structure, corporate results, or specifically differentiating between companies, then "Midwest" or "Midwest Express" specifically meant that company.


So I think it is still appropriate to speak of "Midwest" when it comes to the brand, the markets served, the hub, market share, etc, etc, just as always has been done. "Midwest" in all those contexts has not equaled the planes flown under the YX certificate for 20+ years.

Looking at it another way, everything sold as "Midwest" will for the first time in several years be all under the same corporate umbrella...Republic Airways Holdings. Republic owns the Midwest brand and name, and several of their divisions will be selling some of their services under that brand name. But nothing will be outsourced to another corporation. So while it may seem odd to think of this a "no outsourcing" when it's also viewed as "100% outsourcing", if one wants to dwell on technicalities, this is will be no outsourcing once the last Skywest planes leave. Midwest is a different entity, but it is 100% operated under the corporate umbrella of Republic.

When it comes to the corporate side...things like profit or loss, it's all Republic. Midwest is part of Republic Airways Holdings. We know that Midwest will almost certainly surrender their operating certificate with the last of the 717's, but that does not mean Midwest will or will not continue to exist as a corporate entity owned by Republic. Skyway as a corporate entity continued to exist as a unit of Midwest Airlines long after they surrendered their operating certificate with the last of the BE1 and FRJ leaving. Republic may or may not have reason to continue with Midwest as an entity.

Key to all this, however, is that I don't think the distinction of "Midwest" or "Midwest Operated By" matters that much to the customer. Where there is product change, of course, that does potentially matter to the customer. But that's product change, not "operated by" change. If Midwest were still an independent entity and bought five A319's with different-colored leather seats, all standard coach, onboard entertainment for purchase, and more aggressive price discounting, it would be no different to 99% of the passengers than Frontier's A319's coming in to do the exact same thing. (As a matter of fact, that sounds remarkably like Saver's rollout a few years back, but with the blue cloth seats.) But would it matter to the customers if the planes were flown and staffed by Midwest employees, Skyway employees, or Frontier employees? Honestly? Nope.

I recognize that there will be some people who for whatever reason may shy away from Midwest because there is nothing on the Midwest certificate anymore. But the buying decisions for the vast majority come down to the same things they always do. Onboard amenities are far down on the list for most and usually only matter if all else is equal or nearly so.