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Midwest Airlines Expands Service to Twin Cities, Introduces Bigger Planes and New Terminal

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Midwest Airlines is expanding its service to the Twin Cities, introducing bigger planes and moving from the main Lindbergh terminal to the Humphrey terminal. The airline will start using Boeing 717s, which seat 88 passengers, on three departures out of the Twin Cities, while continuing to use 32-seat regional airplanes for its two other flights to Milwaukee. This expansion comes after Northwest Airlines turned Milwaukee into a mini-hub with nonstop flights to 13 cities.

Key Takeaways:

  • Midwest Airlines will use Boeing 717s, which seat 88 passengers, on three departures out of the Twin Cities, starting next week.
  • The airline will move from the main Lindbergh terminal to the Humphrey terminal, citing the need for a different gate to accommodate the larger planes.
  • Midwest will continue to use 32-seat regional airplanes for its two other flights to Milwaukee.
  • The airline's decision to add more seats on the Twin Cities-Milwaukee route appears aimed at capturing more business travelers.
  • Traffic on the Milwaukee route has grown since the two airlines began competing, with Midwest carrying 53,749 passengers in 2004, a 37% increase over 2003.
  • Northwest Airlines carried 498,134 passengers on the flight segments between Milwaukee and Minneapolis-St. Paul last year, with about 70% of those passengers connecting in the Twin Cities hub or in Milwaukee.
  • Midwest's decision to add more seats on the Twin Cities-Milwaukee route appears aimed primarily at business travelers.
  • The airline will be marketing its service to business travelers who need convenient flights to Milwaukee or the Twin Cities, with features such as leather seats and freshly baked chocolate chip cookies.

Statistics:

  • 53,749 passengers were carried on the Twin Cities-Milwaukee route in 2004 by Midwest Airline, a 37% increase over 2003.
  • In 2004, Northwest carried 498,134 passengers on the flight segments between Milwaukee and Minneapolis-St. Paul.
  • 70% of Northwest's passengers on the Milwaukee route were connecting in the Twin Cities hub or in Milwaukee.
  • Midwest Airlines restructured its finances and averted bankruptcy in 2003.

Sources:

  • Midway Airlines press release
  • Star Tribune article by Liz Fedor
  • Northwest Airlines press release
  • Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) press release
  • Eclat Consulting statistics.

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