Midwest Airlines

[bluejuice787]

Does anyone know where I can find info for an interview with Midwest Airlines? I tried Airline Pilot central but did not find any interview info (what to expect in the interview). I have a friend that says he has an interview there next week.

Thanks

 

[jumppilot03]

I am surprised that they are interviewing. I was told yesterday that all of the newhires currently in class were furloughed, and that they were parking 3 MD-81's. Did anyone else hear this?

 

[SeaLord]

Midwest is parking three 80's but still taking the remaining five 717's. I doubt any furloughs for now, but hiring will be grinding to a halt soon. They told me they wanted 40 more pilots before spring last month, and that was before they interviewed another 15-20 pilots and announced the parking of those planes. Oh, and upgrade is currently at 8 years.

 

[Chuck Yogourt]

Midwest is parking three 80's but still taking the remaining five 717's. I doubt any furloughs for now, but hiring will be grinding to a halt soon. They told me they wanted 40 more pilots before spring last month, and that was before they interviewed another 15-20 pilots and announced the parking of those planes. Oh, and upgrade is currently at 8 years.

Not true. VP says that was being considered to test the market on selling those aircraft but idea was scrapped. It's back to plan A.

 

[Ty Webb]

Maybe they decided to burn the furniture instead, Chuckie.

 

[248to2.8]

Midwest fleet change

YX Fleet change e-mail

To: All Midwest and Skyway Airlines Employees
Date: September 21, 2005
From: Scott Dickson
Subject: Upcoming Fleet Change

As part of our ongoing efforts to operate as efficiently and
productively
as possible, we are planning a change to our MD-80 fleet.

Beginning in mid-December, we will be removing our three MD-81
aircraft --
which are configured for Signature Service with 116 seats -- from
scheduled
service. We will be retaining one of the MD-81s as a system spare and
have
yet to decide the future of the other two. With fuel prices at
near-record
high levels, these aircraft are the least fuel-efficient in our
fleet,
based on the number of seats they carry.

To replace the flying done by the MD-80s, we will be using the new
Boeing
717 aircraft that we will receive in December and the 717 available
due to
our suspension of service to New Orleans. This will result in
several
scheduling changes, including:
Transitioning all Midwest Airlines service between Milwaukee and
the
East Coast to Boeing 717 aircraft.
Changing our San Francisco service from Signature to Saver
Service,
including San Francisco-Kansas City and the continuing
same-plane
service to Milwaukee. This move also introduces Saver Service to
Kansas
City.
Our Boeing 717s burn about 350 gallons less fuel per hour than the
MD-81s,
making them a more fuel-efficient choice. Additionally, the MD-81s are
much
more maintenance-intensive than the 717s. We expect the switch will
save
several million dollars annually.

Although the transition to smaller aircraft on some routes will result
in a
slight overall capacity reduction, we are pleased to be able to
maintain
our presence and frequency in all of our current markets. We also
expect to
benefit from an improved ability to yield manage seats on those routes.

Please note that this decision does not impact the eight MD-82 and
MD-88
aircraft in our fleet, which are Saver Service aircraft with 143 or
147
seats. With more seats, per-seat fuel use on those aircraft is
at an
acceptable level.

 

[Chuck Yogourt]

I stand corrected. My conversation was last week.

 

[Propsync]

We wouldn't have capacity reduction if we had 116 seats in the 717, which is kind of what they're supposed to have anyway. Imagine the yield on a 116 seat 717 vs. an 88 seat 717. What the #ell are they doing?

 

[Ty Webb]

What the #ell are they doing?

It actually could be 117 seats. As to what they are doing . . . . well, I would call it "pursuing a failed business model to the bitter end".

 

[WillFlyFoCookie]

Amen to that Propsync!

More seats on a 717 would be a smart move don't you think? When Skyway's 1900s are gone in a few years maybe they can take those leather seats and put them in 2 by 3 seating on the 717. Lord knows the Beechs will be beginning their 2nd life hauling freight then anyway.

Will the Boeing machinist strike screw up the deliveries of the remaining 5 717s? I heard not very long ago the Midwest had agreed to an "accelerated schedule" with Boeing to get all those remaining five by next Spring or something.

I'm still the eternal optimist that Midwest on a whole is trying to grow to some degree despite parking a few gas guzzling 80s. There does seem to be slow expansion out of Kansas City. The Skyway people at Pittsburg keep hearing from the company that they'll be getting 717s 7 days a week from MCI starting in Nov.

 

[jumppilot03]

I ran into a former syx guy at my company and he said that the newhires at medex had been furloughed. Any truth to this?

 

[metroplex]

NOT TRUE. All these rumors are crap.4 new hires in OCT/05 and 6 more in NOV/05, then more in 2006.The new marketing chief seems pretty good and I just love it when people know more about this airline( and do not work there) , than the employees, not to mention they know how to run an airline.pilots that go to Midex (not medex....) mostly live in MKE and do not want to commute or move. so what is a 8 yr. upgrade? They stay until retirement, and the current contract is a concessionary contract that hopefully will improve.As to Midwest Airlines finacial situation they just switched from NYSE to AMEX.The reason for being accepted is the following.

"The panel also said that mitigating factors warrant listing Midwest Air Group under the Alternative Listing Standards. Specifically, the panel noted:

-- Midwest Air Group's long, profitable history of operation prior to the last few years due to impact of historically high fuel price prices and other cost pressures on the airline industry; -- Midwest Air Group's relatively strong balance sheet for its industry, including its current cash balance; and -- The fact that Midwest Air Group significantly exceeded certain of the initial listing standards -- including stockholders equity, market value of public float and distribution."

 

[Chuck Yogourt]

It actually could be 117 seats. As to what they are doing . . . . well, I would call it "pursuing a failed business model to the bitter end".

You mean that is worse than hiring scabs? Stick to what you know best little boy. You are a Midwest Reject and you can't get over that. Stay with your scabs and enjoy flying for the company once known as Value Jet. Freaking "Critter".

 

[Vwipe]

Hey Yoplay

You better take a good look at the MedEx pilot list. Oooh. got a few scabs on it too don't ya!!!!!

 

[Ty Webb]

You mean that is worse than hiring scabs? Stick to what you know best little boy. You are a Midwest Reject and you can't get over that. Stay with your scabs and enjoy flying for the company once known as Value Jet. Freaking "Critter".

Chuckles . . . you must have the most severe case of E.D. since Bob Dole. Get some meds.

I do enjoy flying for AirTran . . . very much. What's not to like? New planes, great people, decent pay. Expanding, growing, and with $350 mil cash on hand, we're doing OK. We're hiring like crazy, which means we have guys making Captain in 2.5 years . . .

I know it would be a real departure from your usual pathological bitching, whining and crying jags, but why don;t you try to tell us what you like about flying for Midex, other than the fact that they haven't canned you yet?

C'mon, Chuckie . . . tell us . . . we're all waiting.