Originally Posted by
flyYX
MKE had a shot at becoming a true third airport solution for Chicago... Unfortunately it had to be low fares and not convenience that would lure patrons from South of the state line. Maybe in 10 years time and an updated Hiawatha line between Chicago and MKE, will we see another opportunity to become a third airport for Chitown. In the meantime Southwest will have opportunity to expand some if they wish at MKE without worry of Frontier trying to match them.
Wisconsin cancelling the Madison-Milwaukee rail was another nail in the coffin for MKE as a major hub airport. Bringing those passengers to feed MKE would have boosted traffic, since MKE, unlike ORD or MDW, has a convenient Amtrak intercity train station. As it was, Midwest's hub was failing, and Frontier has been unable to turn it around, in spite of substantial money and effort expended to do so, as has been well chronicled here. They have basically said MKE doesn't work, and we're packing our bags and heading back to DEN, where we have had some success.
RIP Midwest Express.