Regional carrier Midwest Connect said today it has signed letters of intent to buy two Fairchild regional jet planes, expanding its fleet to 12.
The Fairchild 328JET aircraft were formerly operated by Atlantic Coast Airlines, the company said.
Midwest Connect's 328JET aircraft are configured with 32 reclining leather seats, offering single seating on one side of the aisle and two-across on the other.
"The 328JET is an excellent fit for many Midwest Connect markets," said David C. Reeve, chairman of Skyways Airlines, which does business as Midwest Connect, in a statement. Skyways is a division of Midwest Air Group (MEH), based in Oak Creek.
KarlB737 From United States, joined Mar 2004, 2379 posts, RR: 11 Reply 2, posted (3 years 4 months 5 days 7 hours ago) and read 2387 times:
Press Release Source: Midwest Airlines
Midwest Connect to Expand Its Regional Jet Fleet
Thursday August 3, 1:21 pm ET
MILWAUKEE, Aug. 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Skyway Airlines (dba Midwest Connect) today announced that it has signed letters of intent to acquire two Fairchild 328JET regional jets. The aircraft were formerly operated by Atlantic Coast Airlines.
The acquisition will expand Midwest Connect's fleet of regional jets from 10 to 12. The airline's 328JET aircraft are configured with 32 reclining leather seats, offering single seating on one side of the aisle and two-across on the other. They feature flight attendant service, lavatory and overhead storage, as well as the widest and tallest passenger cabin in their class.
"The 328JET is an excellent fit for many Midwest Connect markets," said David C. Reeve, chairman of the board for Skyway. "These acquisitions provide a great opportunity to expand our service on these customer-friendly aircraft."
The airline plans to put the planes into revenue service after completion of maintenance work, refurbishment and painting in the Midwest Connect livery.
Terms of the agreements were not disclosed.
Skyway Airlines, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Midwest Airlines. Operating as Midwest Connect, the airline offers connections to Midwest Airlines as well as point-to-point service between select markets on regional jet and turboprop aircraft. Together, the airlines offer service to 47 cities. More information is available at http://www.midwestairlines.com .
JBo From Sweden, joined Jan 2005, 1618 posts, RR: 0 Reply 4, posted (3 years 4 months 5 days 5 hours ago) and read 2270 times:
I imagine these 2 jets are going to supplant the now 3 1900s that have left the fleet since November, stretching ops to the max. I would think it's more likely to see existing Beech routes upgraded rather than new routes created just yet.
I'd take the awe of understanding over the awe of ignorance any day.
N917ME From United States, joined Feb 2005, 704 posts, RR: 1 Reply 5, posted (3 years 4 months 5 days 5 hours ago) and read 2251 times:
To: All Skyway and Midwest Airlines Employees
Date: August 3, 2006
From: David Reeve, Chairman of the Board -- Skyway Airlines
Subject: 328JET Fleet
I am pleased to share the great news that we have signed a letter of intent
to acquire a 328JET regional jet. Additionally, we are beginning
negotiations to acquire a second 328JET. This would expand our fleet of
regional jets from 10 to 12.
Both aircraft were formerly operated by Atlantic Coast Airlines under a
codeshare agreement with Delta Airlines.
On the first jet, we have completed the technical inspection and records
review, and only need to complete a purchase agreement to finalize the deal
-- a process we expect to complete in the next 45 days. After completion of
maintenance work, refurbishment and painting in the Midwest Connect livery,
we hope to put the plane into revenue service later this year.
We will inform you of the status of the second jet as we progress through
negotiations.
At this time, our plan is to use these aircraft in existing Midwest Connect
markets.
Flyibaby From United States, joined Aug 2004, 931 posts, RR: 8 Reply 7, posted (3 years 4 months 5 days 4 hours ago) and read 2171 times:
I'm sure Mesa would make them a sweet deal on all the other DOjets sitting in MYR from the ACA days. There has to be at least 20 of them down here, along with some painted in US colors that appear to be given an engine run-up about once a week.
Knope2001 From United States, joined May 2005, 1615 posts, RR: 29 Reply 8, posted (3 years 4 months 5 days 4 hours ago) and read 2134 times:
I very much hope they do a little backfilling on markets being cut in September when they go down to eight lines of BE1 flying.
MQT drops to 2x/day, and one of those is shared with IMT
DSM drops to 3x/day (2x FRJ 1x BE1)
GRB drops to 5x/day
CWA drops to 3x/day, and some of thsoe are are poorer times than prior.
MSN loses the 7:05am flight to MKE and instead gets a mostly worthless 8:25pm flight.
Ideally the first FRJ takes over St Louis, and with the freed up BE1 time they at least get MQT and CWA back to normal.
Even with the planned 50-seat RJs coming online sometime in 2007 (most likely) they could still use at least at least a couple more FRJ's beyond this 12. Many of the current BE1 markets will stay and be upgraded to FRJ, but not all the current FRJ markets should be upgraded to CRJ or ERJ.
Also, a 32-seat RJ at Kansas City might open up some markets which might be on the thin side for a 50-seat RJ like MCI-CMH. Not sure if they ever intend on the FRJ being in MCI, but I suppose it's possible.
USPIT10L From United States, joined Mar 2006, 2621 posts, RR: 9 Reply 11, posted (3 years 4 months 5 days 1 hour ago) and read 2016 times:
Quoting Airislife (Reply 10): what ever happend to thier ERJ order i remeber a while back b4 the bankruptcy they ordered some ERJs but havent herd anything about that
YX cancelled the order. They never were in bankruptcy.
FlyCMH From United States, joined Jul 1999, 2194 posts, RR: 17 Reply 12, posted (3 years 4 months 3 days 5 hours ago) and read 1737 times:
Quote: Also, a 32-seat RJ at Kansas City might open up some markets which might be on the thin side for a 50-seat RJ like MCI-CMH. Not sure if they ever intend on the FRJ being in MCI, but I suppose it's possible.
Has there been any discussion inside Midwest concerning the possibility of establishing a MCI-CMH route? I know the airport authority here in Columbus has been pushing for nonstops to Kansas City for years, and with Midwest's large, growing operations at MCI and the existing O&D between the two cities, I definitely think Midwest would be the one to make it work. As it currently stands, roughly 80 people fly between Columbus and Kansas City a day. With nonstops, I'd imagine the market stimulation would bump that figure to around 100 people per day. If Midwest could capture just half of that, with two daily 328JETs, they would fill over three quarters of the plane. The remaining seats would be filled with connecting traffic. I'm certain Midwest could make it work, especially with all the incentives the CRAA would throw at them for starting one of their most sought-after routes.
Brakes released, steering in-op, you are clear to push.
Knope2001 From United States, joined May 2005, 1615 posts, RR: 29 Reply 13, posted (3 years 4 months 2 days 22 hours ago) and read 1635 times:
I've never hear MCI-MCH specifically mentioned, but when you look at the MCI stats, I think Columbus is in the top 5 possible markets when the RJ's come. If I had to rank them in order of likelihood:
MSY
AUS
COS
PIT (replacing the 1x 717)
CMH
The wildcard in this derby is if they choose to invade someone else's market with RJ's, like MCI-MSP or MCI-DFW. I'd be very surprised if they don't add at least one or two new cities like Austin, but they might choose to use some of the upcoming RJ lift in large monopoly markets from MCI.
JBo From Sweden, joined Jan 2005, 1618 posts, RR: 0 Reply 16, posted (3 years 4 months 2 days ago) and read 1428 times:
Quoting UAXDXer (Reply 15): I thought MidEx asked Air Wisconsin and ExpressJet to bid on all of MidEx regional flying???
Nonononono....
The RFP Midwest put out (to all regional carriers, not just ZW and XJT), was for additional flying. They have no intention of getting rid of Skyway. Skyway will fly the 328JETs and the third-party carrier will operate the 50-seaters (CRJ/ERJ).
I'd take the awe of understanding over the awe of ignorance any day.
Is this for sure, or are you just guessing, because from what I hear, the B717 goes out full on most days. Just what I hear though!
Complete speculation -- no word on this whatsoever. MCI-PIT runs pretty full now (although not quite as full as most other MCI markets) but it did very poorly over winter and into early spring.
CentPIT From United States, joined Dec 2005, 990 posts, RR: 4 Reply 18, posted (3 years 4 months 1 day 2 hours ago) and read 1218 times:
Quoting Knope2001 (Reply 17): no word on this whatsoever. MCI-PIT runs pretty full now (although not quite as full as most other MCI markets) but it did very poorly over winter and into early spring.
I am glad they gave the route time to catch on instead of just pulling it from the network. I think for having five flights a day, and having almost no recognition from Pittsburgh travelers, a 60-80% load factor is pretty good. They should have advertised the service on one of the billboards in Robinson Twp. as WN does and DH did. I think the O&D numbers between PIT and MCI are pretty high now. I know the traffic is there!
Pittsburgh International: US Airways---160 daily departures! (52 destinations)
FutureUApilot From United States, joined May 2004, 1365 posts, RR: 24 Reply 23, posted (3 years 3 months 3 weeks 5 days 8 hours ago) and read 948 times:
Well from a fuelers standpoint I am not too hapy about this. 328Jets are horrible little planes to fuel, expecially durring the winter months, at least at my home airport.
Luketenley From United States, joined Jul 2006, 419 posts, RR: 1 Reply 24, posted (3 years 3 months 3 weeks 5 days 8 hours ago) and read 940 times:
Quoting CentPIT (Reply 14): Is this for sure, or are you just guessing, because from what I hear, the B717 goes out full on most days. Just what I hear though!
Their traffic has gone up quite a bit over recent months. I doubt they will downgrade and get rid of the B717.
Quoting CentPIT (Reply 18): I am glad they gave the route time to catch on instead of just pulling it from the network. I think for having five flights a day, and having almost no recognition from Pittsburgh travelers, a 60-80% load factor is pretty good. They should have advertised the service on one of the billboards in Robinson Twp. as WN does and DH did. I think the O&D numbers between PIT and MCI are pretty high now. I know the traffic is there!
And I agree with everything you said here. Thoe billboards have helped WN. There numbers are growing fast. I hope they aquire new gates soon. The traffic and pax are here.
UPSMD11 From United States, joined May 2003, 744 posts, RR: 7 Reply 25, posted (3 years 3 months 3 weeks 5 days 5 hours ago) and read 888 times:
SDF currently gets the BE1 and I would love to try Midwest sometime but I refuse to fly the BE1 up to MKE to connect. So maybe, just maybe, SDF will see the 328Jet sometime in the future.
John
26 JBo: The BE1 isn't a bad little aircraft to fly on short legs...but MKE-SDF is pushing it. Hopefully you guys will get lucky and see one over there.
27 CentPIT: WN is gaining PAX fast, but they aren't adding destinations or gates. It doesn't make sense to me! Latest WN PAX numbers at Pittsburgh International:
28 Luketenley: You don't think they should or you don't understand why they haven't added?
29 Baw2198: Actually I'm quite surprised that midwest hasn't looked into adding an additional route to upstate ny, they go to cleveland, skip 3 major population b
30 Jetmatt777: I actually could see them opening up OKC, although, without the Do328Jet. It's pretty close to MCI so , if TUL can support YX, OKC Can, OKC is alot bi
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