MILWAUKEE, May 29 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Midwest Air Group, Inc.
(Amex: MEH), parent company of Midwest Airlines, said it will hold a
Webcast today, Tuesday, May 29, to provide an update on its strategic plan.
Company management will provide the update in a conference call with
industry analysts and institutional investors at 4:30 p.m. Eastern time.
The discussion will be available simultaneously in a listen-only mode and
for the following 30 days at http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=88626&p=irol-irhome. Supporting
materials associated with the conference call will be posted at the same
Web address at 4:15 p.m. Eastern time today.
Midwest Airlines features jet service throughout the United States,
including Milwaukee's most daily nonstop flights and best schedule to major
destinations. Catering to business travelers and discerning leisure
travelers, the airline earned its reputation as "The best care in the air"
by providing passengers with impeccable service and onboard amenities at
competitive fares. Both Skyway Airlines, Inc. -- a wholly owned subsidiary
of Midwest Airlines -- and SkyWest Airlines, Inc. operate as Midwest
Connect and offer service to and connections through Midwest Airlines'
hubs. Together, the airlines offer service to 51 cities. More information
is available at http://www.midwestairlines.com.
Mke717spotter From United States of America, joined Dec 2005, 2327 posts, RR: 5 Reply 1, posted (6 years 3 weeks 1 day 7 hours ago) and read 5214 times:
Should be interesting, perhaps they may announce an order of 737/A320 to replace the MD-80s!? One can only speculate...
Will you watch the Cleveland Browns and the Detroit Lions on Sunday? Only if coach Eric Mangini resigned after a loss.
Vivavegas From United States of America, joined Apr 2004, 505 posts, RR: 2 Reply 4, posted (6 years 3 weeks 1 day 4 hours ago) and read 4959 times:
Quoting Mke717spotter (Reply 1): Should be interesting, perhaps they may announce an order of 737/A320 to replace the MD-80s!? One can only speculate...
Just last week they mentioned they will have a decision later this year (granted they have been saying that for the last two years).
Just throwing out a balloon, but local media had a blurb on the noon news that "Virgin Airlines" says MKE is on the list for service, based on my past history with the media types in MKE this would be Virgin America. Not sure if that is playing into this announcement or if this was just an blurb from a media press release today?
Mainland From United States of America, joined Jun 2004, 303 posts, RR: 0 Reply 5, posted (6 years 3 weeks 1 day 2 hours ago) and read 4796 times:
Will see if there's anything of note in the call:
Midwest Air Group Announces Next Phase of Strategic Plan: Brings Choice to Customers Signature and Saver Seating To Be Available on All Midwest Airlines Aircraft in 2008; Move Expected to Significantly Boost Revenue and Reduce Unit Costs
AirTran737 From United States of America, joined Apr 2004, 3644 posts, RR: 12 Reply 6, posted (6 years 3 weeks 1 day 2 hours ago) and read 4737 times:
Quoting Mainland (Reply 5): Will see if there's anything of note in the call:
Midwest Air Group Announces Next Phase of Strategic Plan: Brings Choice to Customers
Signature and Saver Seating To Be Available on All Midwest Airlines Aircraft in 2008; Move Expected to Significantly Boost Revenue and Reduce Unit Costs
Midwest just became a bit more like AirTran. What happened to the commitment to 2X2 seating? This will piss off the YX cheerleaders.
Nice Trip Report!!! Great Pics, thanks for posting!!!! B747Forever
Boeing7E7 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 7, posted (6 years 3 weeks 1 day 2 hours ago) and read 4677 times:
Quoting Mainland (Reply 5): Midwest Air Group Announces Next Phase of Strategic Plan: Brings Choice to Customers
Signature and Saver Seating To Be Available on All Midwest Airlines Aircraft in 2008; Move Expected to Significantly Boost Revenue and Reduce Unit Costs
Quoting AirTran737 (Reply 6): Midwest just became a bit more like AirTran. What happened to the commitment to 2X2 seating? This will piss off the YX cheerleaders.
As soon as you move to 36" pitch in first (with half the seats being first) and 34" pitch in coach you can make that claim.
Travatl From United States of America, joined Mar 2001, 2172 posts, RR: 11 Reply 8, posted (6 years 3 weeks 1 day 2 hours ago) and read 4658 times:
Yeah, 40C 59Y seems odd. (I get it - 99 seats means only 2 flight attendants still), but imagine 50 Y pax and 2 C pax on board. Weight and balance issue?
Cloudboy From United States of America, joined Jan 2004, 680 posts, RR: 0 Reply 9, posted (6 years 3 weeks 1 day 2 hours ago) and read 4658 times:
So can someone please tell me what is going to make Midwest anny different from any other airline that offers coach and business class seats? Particularly if you can't even book business class? Their legroom is in fact less than JetBlue (34" versus 33" or 32"), and the same as Virgin's upcoming 319's. There's no advantage to seat width, their routing is, for the most part, undesireable, and the onlly service extra they offer are chocolate chip cookies. Which I can pick up as Ms. Fields in half the airports I fly througha anyways. The increased seat width was about the only reason to fly Midwest.
At one point, they were one of only two airlines to even make a profit (along with SouthWest). Now they suddenly got all scared and are throwing away their advantage. I just can't see a viable way in which they have any advatage to survive now.
"Six becoming three doesn't create more Americans that want to fly." -Adam Pilarski
JBo From Sweden, joined Jan 2005, 2281 posts, RR: 0 Reply 10, posted (6 years 3 weeks 1 day 2 hours ago) and read 4639 times:
Quoting AirTran737 (Reply 6): Midwest just became a bit more like AirTran. What happened to the commitment to 2X2 seating? This will piss off the YX cheerleaders.
Did you read the article? I'm fairly certain they're still committed to it.
Nearly half the 717 will still be in Signature config. 40 Signature + 59 Saver. That's more enhanced seating than any other airline still provides, is it not?
They're also adding 12 signature seats to the Saver MD-80s.
If they weren't committed to the Signature seating, don't you think they'd have gotten rid of it by now?
This is certainly a smart move on YX's part ... the additional seats on the 717 will help revenues, and offering signature on the MD-80s is a plus.
I imagine we'll hear something later this year on the MD-80 replacement program. I predict 737s/A320s in a configuration similar to the 717.
I'd take the awe of understanding over the awe of ignorance any day.
Travatl From United States of America, joined Mar 2001, 2172 posts, RR: 11 Reply 13, posted (6 years 3 weeks 1 day 2 hours ago) and read 4560 times:
This does seem to have a desperate feel to it. They likely wanted to go with a much smaller number of C seats, but realized this would've A) added an extra flight attendant and B) practically erased their defense against AirTran. I think the shareholder's meeting is going to be extremely difficult for the YX mgmt - I forsee lot's of shouting and fingerpointing. Damn I want a ticket!
JBo From Sweden, joined Jan 2005, 2281 posts, RR: 0 Reply 14, posted (6 years 3 weeks 1 day 2 hours ago) and read 4544 times:
Quoting Mikey711MN (Reply 11): Honestly, how are they going to price these two classes? Does anyone know? Hell, does YX management even know?
From the memo:
"Along with providing customers with greater choice, our dual-seating
initiative will generate additional revenue from the sale of higher-value
Signature seats. On our MD-80s, Signature seats will be available for an
incremental fee. On our 717s, Signature seating will automatically be
provided to passengers traveling on select unrestricted fares. Other
passengers will be able to take advantage of Signature seating for an
incremental fee."
I'd take the awe of understanding over the awe of ignorance any day.
Boeing7E7 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 15, posted (6 years 3 weeks 1 day 1 hour ago) and read 4520 times:
Quoting Cloudboy (Reply 9): So can someone please tell me what is going to make Midwest anny different from any other airline that offers coach and business class seats?
More of both. Signature matches other domestic first, saver is equal to jetBlue at 34" pitch.
Deltadude8 From United States of America, joined Feb 2000, 569 posts, RR: 6 Reply 16, posted (6 years 3 weeks 1 day 1 hour ago) and read 4498 times:
As I understand...
The Signature Service Price WILL NOT CHANGE....those fares will stay the same...The only difference is that there will be 59 Seats on the 717's for a cheaper fare...
So the product still remains ALL COACH...and all COACH PRICED
Mke717spotter From United States of America, joined Dec 2005, 2327 posts, RR: 5 Reply 17, posted (6 years 3 weeks 1 day 1 hour ago) and read 4425 times:
Quoting Vivavegas (Reply 4): local media had a blurb on the noon news that "Virgin Airlines" says MKE is on the list for service
I wouldn't be to surprised if they started flying from SFO with a couple daily flights. YX is the only other airline that flies that route and someone is going to have to fill those new concourse C gates.
Will you watch the Cleveland Browns and the Detroit Lions on Sunday? Only if coach Eric Mangini resigned after a loss.
Boeing7E7 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 19, posted (6 years 3 weeks 1 day 1 hour ago) and read 4373 times:
Quoting Micstatic (Reply 18): What about for people who have booked Nov or Dec flights on them? Is there a chance they would try to bounce them to coach?
The way it's being phased, the MD-80's are getting upgraded first, then the 717's are being shiftes. I'm sure they would time the 7127 seat sales with the planned transition, not after the seats have been booked.
Srbmod From United States of America, joined Mar 2001, 16896 posts, RR: 51 Reply 20, posted (6 years 3 weeks 1 day ago) and read 4330 times:
Very interesting........
On one hand, one can figure that Midwest appears to see the writing on the wall and is preparing their customers for the transition when the airline is integrated into AirTran. On the other hand, it could be a necessary move on their part in a bid to keeps costs in line and help to make their stand alone plan be viable. Having a fleet with multiple cabin layouts (Signature and Saver not to mention the a/c in sports charter setups) can potentially cause problems in the event of an a/c swap. Plus it gives the airline a uniform cabin throughout their system. I'm sure some passengers that perhaps flew to MKE on a Signature Service flight weren't too thrilled about having to fly a leg on a Saver Service flight.
In many ways, going to this sort of setup pretty much makes Midwest like the bulk of the airlines out there by having a two cabin set up.
The way the cabin will be set up on the 717s is interesting to say the least since it will be close to 1/3rds Signature and 2/3rds. That's quite a generous front cabin for any narrowbody a/c. You would think that on the Mad Dogs they would have had more than 12 Signature seats, although 12 front cabin seats is quite common with many airlines.
Jibblets From United States of America, joined Jan 2007, 36 posts, RR: 0 Reply 21, posted (6 years 3 weeks 1 day ago) and read 4297 times:
Quoting Srbmod (Reply 20): one can figure that Midwest appears to see the writing on the wall and is preparing their customers for the transition when the airline is integrated into AirTran
Why would anyone figure that? Midwest wouldn't bother making the changes at all if that was truly the case. They are clearly committed to fighting AirTran's unsolicited offer otherwise there would have been movement to open their books and negotiate a sale. To suggest that Midwest wants to prepare its customers for the level of service AirTran offers would indicate that they should be removing the leather seats, discontinuing the buy-on-board program, removing ovens, reducing leg room at every seat, and adding many more seats to the 717s.
Mke717spotter From United States of America, joined Dec 2005, 2327 posts, RR: 5 Reply 22, posted (6 years 3 weeks 23 hours ago) and read 4217 times:
Well for some reason both of the other YX threads have been deleted apprently so I'm going to have to carry over my posting here. Not to be bashful or anything but the other threads both had over 20 posts so is it just me or do they really need to be deleted? Anyways, back to the topic at hand - While its good to see the MD-80s getting signature its kinda disapoitning to see the 717s getting saver. Perhaps somewhere down the road I hope that signature may make a full comeback to the 717s but who knows. Atleast the saver seats will now have the brown leather instead of cloth so that's good.
Will you watch the Cleveland Browns and the Detroit Lions on Sunday? Only if coach Eric Mangini resigned after a loss.
Boeing7E7 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 24, posted (6 years 3 weeks 23 hours ago) and read 4177 times:
Quoting Travatl (Reply 23): Well AirTran's response didn't take long....
Too bad Leonard is too stupid to understand the difference between their product and a product where half the aircraft is in a 2+2 business class configuration. What a clown.
"At AirTran Airways, we've always believed in offering our customers choice," said Joe Leonard, AirTran's chairman and chief executive officer.
Really? Having an airline like Midwest vs a sardine can like AirTran is called having a choice there Joe Bob.
[Edited 2007-05-30 01:43:01]
25 F9Animal: YIKES!! Now that is not bad. In fact, that is a pretty good percentage decrease!
26 N917ME: Actually, the dual seating is something that has be looked at for some time, if you look through past interviews with Tim and airline analysts, this i
27 Boeing7E7: Heck, they could go with 12 first at 38" pitch in a 2+2 and the rest at 34" pitch in a 2+3 and it'd still be better than anything AirTran will ever p
28 Srbmod: Next time, don't selectively quote users in such a way that it is misleading and takes their words out of context. By leaving out the "On one hand" p
29 Deltadude8: Well I have decided that I will no longer tender my Midwest Airlines shares...
30 Mke717spotter: So once you tender your shares to FL you have the option to withdraw them? Is that what your saying? Sorry, I'm kinda of a newbie on the stock market
31 JBo: Actually yes, that is true. "Tendering" shares does not actually constitute a full transfer of shares. To put it very simply: "Tendering" is more or
32 Mkeflyer717: OK. I haven't posted much on the related YX/FL topics in the past but this time I feel it is necessary to express some thoughts of mine since FL suppo
34 Jibblets: Not at all. I selectively quoted the portion of your post that I wanted to address. If anyone can't read up one post to see the entire message that y
35 Cloudboy: The fact remains that to the average passenger, you either purchase a full price coach airfare OR you get stuck in typical seating that every other ai
36 CitrusCritter: I think this was an interesting move by YX management. There is a clear need for them to address shareholder concerns, and so they have implemented a
37 CIDflyer: Any chance of YX growing MCI more and adding more destinations there?
38 JBo: Straight from the company memo: "Signature seats on the 717s will offer a 36" pitch -- that's 2-3 more inches of legroomthan current 717 Signature se
39 JBo: Your reply came up as I was composing my previous post, so to readers I apologize for double-posting. As far as the guarantee of Signature Service ..
40 COERJ145: Nope. 21'' wide, which is as much as a typical domestic F class seat.
41 MidEx216: I already threw that out there once. The pilot's made jokes of it.
42 Sideflare75: Tim how dare you copy all of Joe's ideas. Don't you know he invented this two class seating configuration thing?
43 Boeing7E7: The Recaro seats that will be used are designed to provide 34" equivalent legroom in the saver arrangement at the same spacing as the standard 32" so
44 F9Animal: Midwest is not going to FL, at least that is the way it looks. I think FL just needs to back off, and let it go. I would be saddened to see YX go that
45 Knope2001: Frankly, I was glad to hear that they are keeping 40 Signature seats on the 717. I suspected they might go with more like 12-16 premium seats and esse
46 N917ME: OK, Midwest is actually catering to the WHOLE market, giving the passengers who want to travel, but are cheap, more of an option while giving the bus
51 Rumorboy: You have your opinion and I have mine so say's the first amedment.
52 Cloudboy: Where does it say that fares are going to be available at the same price as you pay now for the signature seats? As it states in the press release "On
53 EXAAUADL: Doesnt this get rid of the biggest customer sales asset they had? Now they are like Airtran...sounds like they are desparate to stop the Air Tran buy
54 N917ME: YX will NEVER be like AirTran... I realize Joe Leonard feels like we are copying FL, but we will have 40 "business class" seats, the ability to get a
55 HeavyMx1: They will when their tails have big A's on them! In all serious I see YX (if not aquired by FL) moving to a more standard cabin with even less 2X2. R
56 EXAAUADL: 1. You have 40 business class seats or 40 inch J class seats? Doesnt Air Tran also have 40 inch seat pitch? 2. Most airlines have found BOB doesnt wo
57 JBo: Never said it was guaranteed, but there's no guarantee they're going to flee in droves to other carriers, either. There's alot of passenger loyalty t
58 Boeing7E7: No and it only has 12 seats at 36" pitch as opposed to Midwest's 40 at 36" pitch. What's your point? It works very well at Midwest. It's called havin
59 F9Animal: ??? I never said that about the seats. I am so confused!
60 Cubsrule: Has anyone stopped to consider the possibility that this ISN'T about the FL merger. YX has long tweaked their seating options to maximize their revenu
61 Cloudboy: If they weren't going to pay for it before, I don't see why they would pay for it now, particularly if there is going to be more limited availability
62 Knope2001: Nope. Most larger companies flat-out prohibit...no ifs, ands, or buts...employees from booking ANY domestic travel in ANY domestic first or business-
63 SkyexRamper: I've stayed away from these forums for a few days but I was curious to see what was being said about this new news with Midwest. I'm going to jump in
64 NorthwestEWR: Maybe you but the YX employees that took care of me EWR-MKE-MCI-SAT this afternoon all seemed cheerful and happy. If anything I can see this move bri
65 SkyexRamper: The pilots and most FAs are good about showing their happy faces around passengers, but generally there is another side to them when talking off the
66 JBo: Well coming from another employee, I support the company in doing what it can to stay afloat and stay independent while also working to maintain a un
67 N917ME: Its summertime.... FedEx and UPS are taking ALOT of mail from ALL carriers, once fall and the Christmas season rolls around, the USPS will be dumping
68 EXAAUADL: Wow that's a lot of signature seats. 99 total seats total. It workss. It is, if they can get more revenue, then the airline YX is worth more and FL's
69 SkyexRamper: I said passengers though... I've got my reasons and 1 of them is a very good one. I'm just calling it as it is over at the skyway side of the company
70 N917ME: It pays the bills??? lol.. just kidding.
71 SkyexRamper: Well that is one of many yes..hehehe
72 Cubsrule: Depends if you consider UA Y+ and Y to be dividing the cabin. Sounds like someone has an axe to grind...
74 Knope2001: Might that be a certain someone, and do you work with them or do you need the flight benefits to see them?
75 N917ME: YX just had an internal conference call regarding the seating, timelines, etc. Some hightligfhts: 80's will start to be converted in July/August. Octo
76 Knope2001: Several years ago in an interview, Hoeksema said that (in paraphrase) that if they came to the point where they couldn't make money with the 2x2 seati
77 Cloudboy: There's that customer loyalty thing again. Customers are loyal because they are getting more value and better service. Becoming just another airline i
78 Knope2001: First of all, lost among the fact that not all 717 coach passengers will have 2x2 seating are some noteworthy ways the planned changes will actually
79 JBo: Thanks, man Realistically, I don't think we'd see an FRJ for at least a year. Right now, I think we're more likely to get our 10am turn back (which,
80 SkyexRamper: HAHAHA..been there done that on both accounts. The commuting was killing me..hehe. I think I logged more flight time than most FOs did. I think we'll
81 Cloudboy: Wait a minute - are you saying you used to not book coach fare ever when flying MidWest? This has not changed - what HAS changed is that when you boo
82 Knope2001: Yup, you're right. That comment should not have appeared in the "things which the changed seating will improve" because it is not an improvement. Tod
83 Cloudboy: Me thinks that we have hit a point where the discussion has boiled down to whether or no MidWest's customer loyalty is dependent upon their aircraft a
84 Sideflare75: I guess I don't really understand why everytime Midwest changes something everyone screams how they are doomed and people will run away and fly on som
85 JBo: Thanks for your optimism. The FRJs coming off of the BDL runs will definitely be more useful on some other routes. I'm really surprised that one wasn
86 SkyexRamper: We could easily fill the jets to at least mid 20s on most days, that is if the prices came down to reflect more capacity on the route. But really, kn
87 Knope2001: It seems you believe that it is a dichotomy, either... (a) Midwest's passenger loyalty is based on the onboard comfort of the 21" seat or (b) Midwest
88 Knope2001: Damn...brevity has never exactly been my strong suit.
89 Knope2001: Glad to hear that MBL and ZK are talking, because things have been awfully quiet about ZK flying YX* and I wondered what's up with ZK. Last time I ch
90 SkyexRamper: I wouldn't hold my breath about starting before Dec 31st. They don't tell us squat at work, I had to hear about the new midwest seating idea in the n
91 JBo: We haven't heard anything. The only piece of information I know of that's at all relevant is that Skyway will continue to operate the EAS routes unti
92 Cloudboy: Knope2001 - I am not trying to downplay your airline, or predict doom and gloom. However, as someone who used to be a fan of Midwest, I am simply tryi
93 SkyexRamper: Can you even spell "Midwest" correctly?! M i d w e s t Notice how the "w" looks like that and not "W". You seemed to spell every other airline correc
94 Mke717spotter: Hey I just thought of this, what do you think is going to become of the lone signature MD-80 that they have? Is it going to be reconfigured like the r
95 JBo: Well, the lone signature MD-80 in question (813ME) is not even in regular service right now, it's being used as a spare. Given that, I imagine they m
96 Sideflare75: I do not believe there are any plans to change N813ME in any way. It is a lightweight -81 so isn't really suited to having 140 some seats on it and as
97 SkyexRamper: Look what the FAA has on their ASAP online application site. https://jobs02.faa.gov/asap/default.asp?vac_id=96096
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