Midway Airlines (1976–1991)

For the North Carolina-based Midway Airlines, see Midway Airlines (1993–2003).
Midway Airlines
IATA ICAO Callsign
ML — MIDWAY
Founded 1976
Ceased operations 1991
Hubs Chicago Midway International Airport
Frequent-flyer program FlyersFirst
Airport lounge Midway MetroClub
Fleet size 60
Destinations 40
Headquarters Chicago, Illinois
Key people David R. Hinson (CEO)

Midway Airlines was a United States airline founded on August 6, 1976, by investor Kenneth t. Carlson and joined by Irving T. Tague and William B. Owens in an October 13, 1976 filing at the CAB for an Airline operating certificate. Although it received its operating certificate from the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) prior to the passage of the Airline Deregulation Act in 1978, it is widely recognized as the first post-deregulation start-up. The airline commenced operations in 1979.

The airline was intended to breathe new life into Chicago Midway International Airport, then called Chicago Midway Airport, which had lost most of its scheduled flights to O'Hare International Airport. Midway Airlines and the revitalized airport were advertised as a trouble-free alternative to O'Hare, and both of these spurred re-development and growth on Chicago's South Side. The airport was billed as a convenient ten- to fifteen-minute drive from downtown Chicago.

History

Douglas DC-9-15 of Midway Airlines in 1982 wearing the airline's early color scheme

Following the Airline Deregulation Act of 1978, Midway first emerged as a discount carrier. It was noted for its low fares and ease of connections at Midway Airport. The airline purchased three DC-9s from TWA and began flying to Cleveland (Lakefront), Kansas City, and Detroit. The scheduled service was an instant success. In 1980 Midway bought five more DC-9s and added flights to St. Louis, New York La Guardia and Washington National; they also shifted to Cleveland service to Hopkins International Airport. The airline also briefly served Minneapolis, but this was dropped shortly after.

During the 1980s the airline adopted a combination of all-leather two-by-two seating to business markets and all-coach seating to vacation destinations. This idea was eventually dropped due to the impact on revenue caused by eliminating seats, and the confusion it created in the minds of connecting passengers.

The carrier expanded into the Caribbean via the purchase in 1984 of the assets of Air Florida, which had gone into bankruptcy. It proved to be good mix of business and vacation travel revenue. Midway flourished under the leadership of David R. Hinson (CEO 1985 to 1991), but the opening of a second hub at Philadelphia International in 1990 proved unsuccessful.

Midway Airlines Boeing 737-200

In 1986 the company assisted in setting up a successful regional affiliate, Midway Connection, as a feeder from small communities in Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, and Michigan. This carrier was established following the bankruptcy of Chicago Air, a regional carrier which attempted a similar, but independent feeder operation in 1986.

On a June 1988 weekday Midway scheduled 116 nonstop flights into MDW from 25 airports, along with 75 Midway Connection nonstops from 17 other airports. They flew MDW-MIA-STX-STT and back and MDW-FLL-NAS and back; aside from those all Midway flights were nonstop to/from MDW.

Midway was noted for friendly employees and attentive service, and its Chicago South Side passengers were fiercely loyal to their hometown airline. Some of the signature inflight service items were after-dinner chocolate wafer mints and hot hand towels to the entire cabin, both of which had originally caught on with Midway's business clientele.

In June 1989, Midway Airlines agreed to purchase a hub operation at Philadelphia International Airport for $100 million along with $100 million worth of DC-9 jets from the bankrupt Eastern Air Lines.[1] The company began hub operations in Philadelphia in November 1989.[2] However, less than a year later, competition with the US Airways Philadelphia hub, coupled with rising jet fuel prices following the August 1990 Invasion of Kuwait, caused the company to quit its Philadelphia hub. In October 1990 it sold its Philadelphia assets to USAir for $67.5 million.[3]

Boeing 737-200 N702ML in Midwest Airlines/Southwest Airlines hybrid livery.

Citing the high price of jet fuel during the Gulf War and a drop in passengers in the recession that followed, the airline filed Chapter 11 in March 1991.[4] In reorganization, Midway attempted to sell itself to Northwest Airlines. When Northwest pulled out of negotiations on November 12, 1991, Midway ceased operations the next day[5] and its bankruptcy was re-filed as a liquidation under Chapter 7 bankruptcy laws.

Destinations

Canada

Caribbean

United States

Fleet

From 1983–1985 Midway experimented with a one-class business service called "Midway Metrolink" on some of its flights.[6] Seating was 2x2 on DC-9s, which typically have 2x3 seating.

Midway Express

After its initial acquisition of Air Florida, Midway Airlines operated an express service called "Midway Express", which flew some of Air Florida's old tourist routes. Midway Express served five airports in Florida, including Ft. Lauderdale and West Palm Beach. The airline used re-badged Air Florida 737s.[7]

Midway Connection

In 1987 Midway Airlines purchased commuter air carrier Fischer Brothers Aviation based in Galion, Ohio, and moved the entire operation to Springfield, Illinois. Fischer Brothers Aviation had previously operated Allegheny Commuter service for Allegheny Airlines and successor USAir and then began operating Northwest Airlink service on behalf of Northwest Airlines. The initial move consisted of the Fischer Brothers management team (including Vice President of Operations Armondo Cardenas, Chief Pilot Mark Zweidinger, Vice President of Customer Service Mark Fisher and Human Resources Manager Sandy Baldwin) and was led by Midway Airlines executive and Richard Pfennig, and offers were provided to anyone from the maintenance team that wanted to relocate. Mr. Pfennig took control of the operation and was able to quickly get the operation through certification flights, and in the spring of 1987 the commuter started scheduled passenger carrying flights. The initial operation consisted of the original ten Dornier Do 228 turboprop aircraft and eventually ended with 28 Dornier aircraft and 13 Embraer EMB-120 Brasilia turboprop aircraft. Midway Connection operated to cities in the Midwest states, including Wisconsin (Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay, Oshkosh), Michigan (Traverse City, Grand Rapids, Muskegeon, Lansing, Kalamazoo), Indiana (South Bend, Ft. Wayne, Indianapolis), Illinois (Bloomington, Champaign, Moline-Quad Cities, Peoria and their home base Springfield, Illinois), and Ohio (Toledo). This Midway Connection service was a wholly owned subsidiary of Midway Airlines, and although it was an independent operation, it was completely operated as a "feeder" for the "mainline" operation via a code sharing agreement. Dispatch and Maintenance for the airline was conducted in Springfield, Illinois, while reservations were supported through Midway Airlines in Chicago utilizing the SABRE reservations system.

Iowa Airways also operated Midway Connection code share service and in 1989 was flying nonstop between Midway Airport and Benton Harbor, Flint, and Kalamazoo in Michigan, Dubuque in Iowa and Elkhart in Indiana with Embraer EMB-110 Bandeirante turboprops.[8]

Accidents and incidents

Midway Airlines had no aircraft accidents.

Midway Connection had only 3 minor incidents and 2 large bird strike incidents. During initial FAA flight proving runs, a cabin door on the Dornier 228 aircraft opened in flight and struck the tail of the aircraft. The aircraft sustained minor damage and returned to Springfield, Illinois. The door was found in a field later that month.

During a passenger flight, a repair of the previous tail damage came loose inflight and departed the aircraft. The damage was found during inspection by the first officer for the next flight. During engine start up procedures, a parking brake was left engaged on a Dornier 228 aircraft. The FAA determined that braking pressure had bled out from one of the main landing gear brakes. The over-riding parking brake valve prohibited the pilot from being able to actuate the pilot brakes causing the aircraft to yaw and strike one of the other nearby parked aircraft.

Midway Connection had two bird strike incidents involving geese. The first incident involved a goose striking the inner wing between the engine and the fuselage. During the incident the bird was also struck by the propeller and a portion of the carcass was thrown through the passenger window striking a passenger. The second involved a goose striking one of the landing gear sponsons causing substantial damage to the fairing and structure.

Frequent flyer program

Midway operated a frequent flyer program called FlyersFirst. Upon cessation of service, the program ended and mileage credits were not transferred to any other program.[9]

References

  1. ↑ Salpukas, Agis (17 June 1989). "Eastern to Sell Operations In Philadelphia to Midway". New York Times. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
  2. ↑ Jouzaitis, Carol (12 October 1989). "Midway Fills Out Philly Slate". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
  3. ↑ Berg, Eric N. (20 October 1990). "Midway Air Leaving Philadelphia". New York Times. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
  4. ↑ Dallos, Robert E. (27 March 1991). "Midway Airlines Seeks Chapter 11 Shield". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
  5. ↑ Salpukas, Agis (14 November 1991). "Midway Air Shuts Down After Buyout Is Abandoned". New York Times. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
  6. ↑ history
  7. ↑
  8. ↑ http://www.departedflights.com, Dec. 15, 1989 Official Airline Guide (OAG), Chicago Midway Airport flight schedules
  9. ↑ WebFlyer :: The Frequent Flyer Authority
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