Struggling now-basically-regional carrier Midwest Airlines is hardly the only carrier trying to cut jobs these days to stay afloat. But Midwest may have got more than it bargained for when its deal with Republic Airlines eliminated 270 jobs, including the positions of 125 unionized pilots whose jobs will be taken over.
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by egw
Just last week, a bunch of Midwest Airlines pilots were saying that all the changes at the company would hurt passengers' experiences with the carrier. But at least one person told the Washington Post today that flying Midwest is still a pretty good time:
I had something weird happen to me last weekend: A great airline experience. Nothing major, but I flew Midwest Airlines for the first time.
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by pbb
Roughly 200 Midwest Airlines pilots rallied at Mitchell International in Milwaukee Thursday to protest upcoming layoffs and outsourcing. The troubled carrier, which recently got a cash infusion that could stave off bankruptcy, has decided to outsource some service to Republic Airlines, which will fly Embraer 170s instead of Boeing 717s.
One of the protesting pilots says that's not what passengers expect:
Midwest is going to be down to about 360 of the wide leather seats and 2,000 basically coach seats. The passenger is going to see a big difference in what kind of service they're going to receive.
Another pilot was more blunt:
They must think the public is stupid, and isn't going to notice.
Oh, we noticed!
Related Stories:
· Midwest Airlines Workers Protest Leasing Plan [J-S]
· Midwest Pilots Protest, Claim Service Will Suffer [WTMJ]
· Midwest Airlines coverage [Jaunted]
[Photo: Journal-Sentinel]
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So far this year, Midwest Airlines has laid off more than 1,000 employees, trimmed its fleet, announced plans to add smaller seats and checked bag fees--and the carrier even started cutting back on the number of cookies it hands out. When will it all end?!
All the changes led us to wonder if it's worth booking a Midwest seat anymore. When the seats were large, the service terrific and the cookies copious, we'd pay a premium to fly the carrier, as long as we were headed to a city it served. But now? The airline is so focused on the bottom line it hardly seems different than any other out there. (Admittedly, a recent cash infusion has the threat of bankruptcy at bay for the moment.)
But what say you? Is Midwest still worth booking--even at a fare premium? Or have the glory days gone the way of its MD-80s? Spill your thoughts in our open thread.
Related Stories:
· Midwest Airlines coverage [Jaunted]
[Photo: Cubbie_n_Vegas]
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Struggling carrier Midwest Airlines has sealed a deal for $60 million in new financing, and has inked another bargain to add 12 regional jets to its fleet, while trimming its 717 holdings. The carrier has already secured $40 million of the promised money--needed for paying off debts to airports, among other things--and it also got a $15 million loan from Republic Airways, the company Midwest has hired to operate those dozen regional jets.
The outsourcing of the Midwest Connect service starts on October 1, which means another couple hundred employees will be furloughed--on top of the 1,200 jobs already cut this summer. The airline says that's to train its people on the new Embraer 170s that Republic flies; the Midwest pilots' union has its doubts:
Management [has] restated its continued intent to wring drastic, draconian concessions from our pilots, holding our very jobs hostage as part of its deal with Republic.
But the airline simply doesn't need as many pilots working because it's also renegotiated a lease with Boeing. Midwest will return 16 of its 25 717s to their manufacturer. That means just nine planes will be kitted out with the new seats announced in August.
Oh, and one last thing: Midwest will start charging $15 for your first checked bag on flights October 21 and later.
Related Stories:
· Midwest Airlines Announces Progress on Restructuring Plan [Official Site]
· Midwest Pilots Express Outrage at Airline's Deal [PRNewswire]
· Midwest Makes More Cuts [WTMJ]
· Midwest Death Watch coverage [Jaunted]
[Photo: phantom kitty]
Midwest Airlines, once the classiest coach ride out there, will add 11 new seats to its remaining planes by October 21, a move that will no doubt result in middle seat armrest battles at the back of the carrier's 717s.
Along with the added seats comes a fee for the good ones, a move other struggling airlines have already instituted. But it's not as bad as it sounds, says the Midwest spin machine:
40 wide, two-across Signature seats will feature even more legroom than today and will be complemented by 59 newly designed Recaro Saver seats, uniquely engineered to provide maximum space between your knees and the row in front....
Travelers paying higher-value refundable fares will be assigned a Signature seat, if available, at no additional charge. Or, find the lowest available fare and secure your Signature seat for a modest fee at time of booking.
Related Stories:
· Introducing Midwest Class [Official Site]
· Midwest Death Watch: Systemwide Cuts Starting to Hurt [Jaunted]
· Airline Death Watch: Are Midwest's Cookies Endangered? [Jaunted]
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More bad news for the Milwaukee-based airline: Northwest Airlines' 47-percent share in the carrier has lost so much value that NWA has written off its $213 million investment in Midwest Airlines, which it bought with TPG Capital in January.
Paying passenger traffic for Midwest also dropped 16 percent in July compared to last year's numbers with 324,002 brave souls taking the ailing carrier. Northwest ended up buying Midwest to keep budget carrier AirTran from gaining a toehold in Milwaukee; now it's looking like they just ended up with a white elephant.
Related Stories:
· Northwest Writes off Midwest Investment [Milwaukee JS]
· Midwest Passenger Loads Down in July [Biz Journals]
· Midwest Death Watch coverage [Jaunted]
[Photo: md11forever]
Last week's announced cuts to Midwest Airlines' service are starting to take effect, and they hurt! Hundreds of vacationers bound for Orlando on one of the to-be-cut flights between September 8 and October 20 were stymied by error messages on Midwestairlines.com and consistent busy signals on the company's 800 number. Even travel agents reported trouble getting through on the domestically staffed help line.
One area particularly hurt by the service changes? The cities of Stevens Point, Wausau and Wisconsin Rapids, served by Central Wisconsin Airport in Mosinee. With Midwest goes the only flight connecting the northern half of WI to Milwaukee, forcing fliers to connect through Detroit, Minneapolis or O'Hare for an in-state destination.
At least this misery has company: Airline columnist Joe Brancatelli declared "every U.S. carrier except Southwest Airlines faces bankruptcy and possibly even liquidation" in his latest Seat 2B bulletin. Clearly people are cashing in those edgy Southwest coupons.
Related Stories:
· Midwest Death Watch: Capacity Costs Made Official [Jaunted]
· Passengers have trouble using Midwest Airlines refund site [MJS]
· Midwest Airlines callers get constant busy signal [MJS]
· Don't Take A Flier On Airlines [WaPo]
· Midwest Airlines Cuts CWA Flights [Fox 55 Wausau]
[Photo: retokurmann]
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