Routes and Airports Channel

MKE braced for traffic upsurge with arrival of Southwest

By Sandra Arnoult
ATW's Airports Today, September 2009, p.4

Milwaukee's General Mitchell International, which has felt the pinch of a faltering economy and a failing local carrier, is looking forward to better times with the arrival of Southwest Airlines this fall.

Over the past year, the airport was affected adversely by the financial problems of Midwest Airlines and a subsequent 40% reduction in flying. In prior years, Midwest accounted for more than half of the flights out of MKE. In the first five months of 2009, traffic was down some 15% compared to 2008.

"It's mostly due to the reduction in seats with Midwest Airlines, which carried the largest number of passengers," MKE spokesperson Pat Rowe confirmed to ATW's Airports Today, noting that "AirTran had a very robust schedule last summer and then they also reduced flights and went to a more seasonal type of schedule."

But brighter days are ahead for the airport as it is poised to become a hub of low-fare competition now that SWA has committed to serve it from November. AirTran, which previously tried to buy Midwest, is beefing up its schedule and by Oct. 1 will be offering 36 flights from MKE to 19 cities including Denver, Indianapolis and Pittsburgh, according to an airline spokesperson. Seasonal service to Phoenix and Fort Lauderdale will commence in November. And with Midwest now owned by Republic Airways, that carrier should be on a firmer financial footing.

Rowe said MKE draws about 7% of its passengers from northern Illinois and Chicago. She expects this figure to increase with the arrival of SWA, which will initiate service with a dozen daily nonstop flights to six destinations. MKE is about 70 mi. from Chicago O'Hare. It has 48 gates, all of which are currently in use, she noted.

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