Max Powers
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WEDNESDAY, Jan. 16, 2008, 11:27 a.m.
By Tom Daykin
Midwest Air changes will cost 400 jobs
Nearly 400 employees of Midwest Air Group Inc. will lose their jobs, with Midwest Air choosing to hire a Utah-based company to handle all of its Midwest Connect regional carrier flights, it was announced today.
Oak Creek-based Midwest Air, which operates Midwest Airlines and Midwest Connect, is hiring SkyWest Airlines Inc. to take over all Midwest Connect flights to save costs. St. George, Utah-based SkyWest in 2007 began flying 50-seat regional jets under the Midwest Connect name. By March and April, SkyWest will begin flying all Midwest Connect routes with additional 50-seat jets. They will replace Midwest Connect's 32-seat jets, now flown by Skyway pilots, because the larger jets operate more efficiently, the company announcement said.
As a result, 380 employees - mostly pilots, flight attendants, mechanics and dispatchers - will lose their jobs. They work for Skyway Airlines Inc., the Midwest Air subsidiary that operates Midwest Connect.
Around 750 Skyway employees will continue providing ramp and dining services for Midwest Airlines and Midwest Connect, and customer service operations in Midwest Connect field stations. Over time, Skyway's business will be expanded to offer these types of services to other airlines, the announcement said.
"This was an extremely difficult business decision in terms of its impact on Skyway employees," said David Reeve, Skyway chairman, president and chief executive officer, in a statement. "However, it is necessary for the long-term success of Midwest Air Group."
A spokesman for the pilots union at Skyway couldn't be reached immediately for comment.
By Tom Daykin
Midwest Air changes will cost 400 jobs
Nearly 400 employees of Midwest Air Group Inc. will lose their jobs, with Midwest Air choosing to hire a Utah-based company to handle all of its Midwest Connect regional carrier flights, it was announced today.
Oak Creek-based Midwest Air, which operates Midwest Airlines and Midwest Connect, is hiring SkyWest Airlines Inc. to take over all Midwest Connect flights to save costs. St. George, Utah-based SkyWest in 2007 began flying 50-seat regional jets under the Midwest Connect name. By March and April, SkyWest will begin flying all Midwest Connect routes with additional 50-seat jets. They will replace Midwest Connect's 32-seat jets, now flown by Skyway pilots, because the larger jets operate more efficiently, the company announcement said.
As a result, 380 employees - mostly pilots, flight attendants, mechanics and dispatchers - will lose their jobs. They work for Skyway Airlines Inc., the Midwest Air subsidiary that operates Midwest Connect.
Around 750 Skyway employees will continue providing ramp and dining services for Midwest Airlines and Midwest Connect, and customer service operations in Midwest Connect field stations. Over time, Skyway's business will be expanded to offer these types of services to other airlines, the announcement said.
"This was an extremely difficult business decision in terms of its impact on Skyway employees," said David Reeve, Skyway chairman, president and chief executive officer, in a statement. "However, it is necessary for the long-term success of Midwest Air Group."
A spokesman for the pilots union at Skyway couldn't be reached immediately for comment.
