Press Release Source: Southwest Airlines


Southwest Airlines Announces Intent to Begin Service From Milwaukee General Mitchell International Airport

DALLAS, May 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Southwest Airlines today announced its intent to begin service from Milwaukee's Mitchell International Airport (MKE) late this year. The carrier has not released specific service details, but said it will offer multiple destinations from the airport of choice for business and leisure travelers who work and live across the vibrant and growing region. The new Southwest service from MKE will commence after already-announced new service to New York LaGuardia (June 28) and Boston Logan (August 16).


"I am certain our more than 90 million annual Customers will be delighted to learn they will now be able to fly Southwest Airlines when their travels take them to Milwaukee. Likewise, I look forward to bringing our great, low fare service, and the nation's largest airline network to our new friends in Milwaukee, which will also help better serve the Northern Chicago Area," said Gary Kelly, Southwest's Chairman of the Board, President, and CEO, at Southwest Airlines' Annual Meeting of Shareholders in Dallas.


"As we have previously announced, we essentially slowed our 2009 and 2010 fleet growth to zero. All of these new market opportunities are made possible without the addition of a single airplane by our continuous flight schedule optimization process," he said.


The Company plans to release more details of its future service from Milwaukee in the coming months.


"Southwest's arrival in Milwaukee will stimulate job growth, economic development, and give travelers more options they've been seeking," said Milwaukee Mitchell Airport Director Barry Bateman. "Southwest is already the dominant airline at Chicago Midway and will provide new service to the growing population of Northern Illinois and Southeastern Wisconsin, further solidifying Mitchell International as 'Chicago's Third Airport'."


To view a blog post on this news, visit: http://www.blogsouthwest.com. To visit Southwest's web site, visit: www.southwest.com.


After nearly 38 years of service, Southwest Airlines, the nation's leading low-fare carrier, continues to stand above other airlines--offering a reliable product with exemplary Customer Service with no hidden fees. Southwest Airlines is the most productive airline in the sky and offers Customers a comfortable traveling experience with all premium leather seats and plenty of legroom. Southwest recently updated its gate areas and improved its boarding procedure to make flying Southwest Airlines even more convenient. Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV - News) currently serves 65 cities in 33 states. Based in Dallas, Southwest currently operates more than 3,300 flights a day and has more than 35,000 Employees systemwide.
http://www.southwest.com

 

This should be in the "More sad news for Midwest" thread, right? J/K

I did not think SWA would go into MKE. First because of their huge presence in MDW and second because of Air Tran's growth out of there. They know what they are doing though! I am sure most people did not see them going into LGA and BOS either..

 

They are going after AirTran and Midwest!

 

Not so sure they are going after airTran. Remember that AT and SWA compete head to head in MCO and BWI with AT holding their own. AT is a great low cost carrier that SWA can't even run out of town.

More than likely this is the nail in the coughin’ for Midwest.

 

Also keep in mind that SWA operates out of SFO which is 6 miles away from their base in OAK.

 

Just filling in the blanks. Passenger numbers are down, so you have to broaden your destination offerings to keep planes full. SWA/AirTran/JetBlue will pretty much be bumping into each other wherever they go, but that's really not a problem, because the real competition (ASMs) is with legacy carriers. This just gives SWA another option to O'Hare.

 

My Crystal Ball says:
Say good bye to Midwest, Chapter 7...
Air Tran Buys all 717's...
RAH collects in the Bankrupcy and sends the MKE 170's to Hawaii for Mokelele...
SKW is left out in the cold...
Southwest sacks yet another castle with minimal resistance...

 

SKW is only operating 9 a/c for Midwest & they have been pulling back ever since the beginning. This is expected and has been prepared for.

 

Any guesses as to what cities they might serve initially? Florida? Vegas? Baltimore? MSP even?

 

BWI, BNA or STL, LAS or PHX nonstops.

One stop service to many others.