By Tom Daykin of the Journal Sentinel
Posted: Nov. 4, 2009 10:58 a.m.
AirTran Airways, the second-largest airline at Mitchell International Airport, will add new service to Dallas, and is entering a partnership with another carrier to add regional flights to six new destinations, including Des Moines, St. Louis and Indianapolis.
The new flights bring more choices for people flying from Milwaukee, where competition among airlines has been increasing. AirTran made its announcement Wednesday, three days after Southwest Airlines started new service from Mitchell International.
AirTran will begin flying twice daily to Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport on April 6, said Kevin Healy, senior vice president of marketing and planning. AirTran in April also will add another daily flight to its current service to Washington, D.C.’s Reagan National Airport.
In addition, Orlando-based AirTran announced a marketing partnership with SkyWest Airlines.
St. George, Utah-based SkyWest will offer new regional jet service between Milwaukee and six destinations: Pittsburgh; St. Louis; Akron/Canton, Ohio; Indianapolis, Des Moines, Iowa; and Omaha, Neb. Tickets will be sold though AirTran’s reservation system, and revenue will be shared between the two airlines. The SkyWest flights will be added in December, January and February.
AirTran’s arrangement with SkyWest is unusual. Typically, larger airlines contract with airlines like SkyWest to operate regional flights under the larger carrier’s brand, such as Midwest Express or American Eagle.
Healy said the company didn’t want to create an “AirTran Express” because of concerns it would hurt the brand developed by AirTran, which makes a point of not using smaller regional jets on shorter routes. The partnership with SkyWest allows AirTran, a low-fare airline, to expand its Milwaukee hub in a cost-effective manner, he said.
“Our biggest objective is to build and support the Milwaukee hub in a way that is effective for us, consistent with our pricing structures,” Healy said.
Midwest Airlines, owned by Republic Airways Holdings Inc., is Milwaukee’s No. 1 carrier, with 35.5% market share, followed by AirTran with 24.5% and Delta Air Lines/Northwest at 19.9%, according to airport data.
–Milwaukee Sentinel
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