Latest news with #AirWisconsin
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Why is Air Wisconsin running a $400 nighttime route from Appleton to Milwaukee? What we know
Amid significant layoffs and pending bids for federal Essential Air Service contracts, Air Wisconsin is selling tickets for late-night Saturday flights between Appleton and Milwaukee. The one-way flight scheduled on Saturday nights from Appleton International Airport (ATW) to Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport (MKE) costs $447 per passenger as of April 22, according to JustFly. The route isn't prominently listed on other travel platforms like Booking or Expedia, nor are they displayed on the Appleton airport's website. In comparison, United Airlines offers a one-way flight from Appleton to Milwaukee with a connection in Chicago O'Hare International Airport, with fares at around $558 per passenger as of April 22, according to JustFly. However, there are discrepancies between scheduled listings and actual operations for the route. The MKE route map shows these flights are listed as scheduled on Saturday nights from April 12 through May 31. Data from FlightAware, a flight tracking service, shows an Air Wisconsin flight departed from ATW to MKE on April 11 and again on April 12. There was an April 21 departure from MKE, and another flight took off on April 22. Air Wisconsin hasn't responded to The Post-Crescent's multiple inquiries for comment. One aviation industry analyst says the scheduled flights are used to maintain the airline's Federal Aviation Administration certificate as an air carrier. 'It's really just the logistics operation to keep the certificate valid,' Robert W. Mann Jr., a former airline executive officer and current president of R.W. Mann and Co., an independent airline consultancy, told The Post-Crescent. Air Wisconsin is a regional airline and has historically operated flights connecting smaller cities to larger hubs and served as a feeder airline for major carriers, including American Airlines. To operate scheduled passenger services, Air Wisconsin must hold an FAA Part 121 Air Carrier Certificate, which ensures that airlines adhere to strict safety, operational and maintenance standards. In January, the company announced the end of its partnership with American Airlines and a strategic move toward federally subsidized Essential Air Service (EAS), typically linking smaller, less-populated airports to major hub ones and expanding its charter operations. Air Wisconsin drastically reduced its flight operations after concluding its contract with American Airlines on April 3, according to FlightAware. The airline had scheduled 108 flights under the American Eagle banner on April 3, but this number dropped to just a handful the following day. Mann said it takes time to build a portfolio of charter operations and EAS program markets, assuming the company secures those federal contracts, while continuing to qualify as a federally certified regional air carrier. While the FAA doesn't specify a minimum number of flights that a 121 air carrier must operate to retain its certificate, the company is maintaining a minimum number of airplanes in operation. That allows pilots to retain their qualification and keeps maintenance personnel engaged. 'They're really just trying to hedge their bets on the transition, but also the ability to hold on to a certificate as a 121,' Mann said. While seeking alternative flying opportunities, including bids for federally subsidized EAS routes and expansion of its charter operations, the company is facing challenges in securing new contracts. Recent bids for EAS routes in Burlington, Iowa, and Quincy, Illinois, are pending with the U.S. Department of Transportation as of April 17. 'If that doesn't work out, their best shot may be to sell a certificate to someone who is involved in a certification and wants to move faster by acquiring it,' Mann said. Zhen Wang is a business reporter for The Post-Crescent. Reach her with story tips and feedback at zwang@ or 920-993-7117. This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: Why is Air Wisconsin running a $400 nighttime Appleton-Milwaukee route?
Yahoo
12-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Additional Air Wisconsin workers to be laid off by June, officials cite economic uncertainties as over 100 jobs impacted
(WFRV) – The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD) announced on Thursday that further employment reductions will impact over 100 Air Wisconsin employees by June, citing multiple factors. The employees vary from position, and the announcement comes three months after over 500 other Air Wisconsin employees were notified of layoffs as well, with Wholesale food distributor founded in Wisconsin shuts down, 50 laid off The reason for the January announcement was cited as a strategy shift following the end of a contract with American Airlines on April 3. The release said that despite the pursuit of other flying opportunities, the company has to re-evaluate its strategy due to 'recent uncertainty in the general economy and airline industry.' The reductions are expected to be temporary for employees in a union and permanent for management/salaried workers. The length of these cuts isn't known, pending future developments. 128 salaried/management workers will be impacted by this cut; however, union employees and representatives received a 'Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification' letter on January 31. 'On January 31, 2025, you received notice in accordance with the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification ('WARN') Act. That notice informed you of a layoff expected to occur between March 31 and April 14, 2025. However, due to continued uncertainty within the airline industry and our efforts to secure alternative flying in the hopes of avoiding additional employment reductions, the anticipated furlough dates in that notice are extended. It is expected that an additional furlough impacting your labor group will become effective between [April/May XX, 2025, and April/May XX, 2025]. This furlough will be conducted in accordance with your collective bargaining agreement.' January 31, 2025, WARN letter Manufacturer to close Wisconsin headquarters, lay off 53 employees The affected employees vary between Appleton International Airport and General Mitchell International Airport in Milwaukee. The jobs being cut are listed in the release. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
04-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
UPDATE: Air Wisconsin plans 200 layoffs in Dayton; flights will not be canceled
Feb. 4—Air Wisconsin Airlines is moving toward temporary and permanent job reductions that could affect just over 200 employees at the Dayton International Airport. It's the second big change coming to the Dayton airport, after PSA Airlines announced last week that it will be relocating its headquarters from the Dayton airport to North Carolina. Air Wisconsin, a regional air carrier based in Appleton, Wisconsin, has issued an Ohio Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) notice that says it may temporarily lay off 185 union-represented employees and permanently cut 20 management and salaried workers in Ohio. Dozens of flight captains, first officers, flight attendants and mechanics could be laid off. The company said these potential job reductions would affect its business at the Dayton airport as soon as March 31, or during the 14-day period thereafter. "The duration of the reduction is unknown and will be dependent on alternative flying opportunities," the company's WARN letter states. American Airlines says Air Wisconsin currently operates flights out of Dayton that go to Chicago. American says it will transition this service to other regional providers and the air carrier will not cancel its routes from Dayton when its relationship with Air Wisconsin changes. They said they are working with those other regional providers "to minimize disruptions to our customers' travel plans." "American continually evaluates its regional network and makes strategic decisions that will benefit our airline and customers," company officials said. "As a result, we have begun reducing our schedule operated by Air Wisconsin starting in March, with the final Air Wisconsin-operated flights for American on April 3. We sincerely appreciate the hard work and dedication of the Air Wisconsin team over the past two years." About 62,300 travelers who departed the Dayton International Airport last year flew on Air Wisconsin's jets. About 10% of all passenger boardings at the airport were for flights being operated by Air Wisconsin for American. Air Wisconsin announced the potential layoffs after terminating a "capacity purchase agreement" with American Airlines. Since March 2023, Air Wisconsin has operated flights for American Airlines under an agreement that was entered into in August 2022, per documents from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Under the agreement, Air Wisconsin agreed to provide up to 60 CRJ-200 regional jet aircraft for regional airline services for American. American Airlines became Air Wisconsin's sole airline partner when all of Air Wisconsin's aircraft were removed from United's flying operations in early June 2023, the SEC documents state. Air Wisconsin, which was 10th largest regional airline in the United States in 2022, has a crew base and leases a maintenance hangar at the Dayton airport. Air Wisconsin in a press release in January said that its capacity purchase agreement with American Airlines will conclude in April 2025. The WARN notice lists April 3 as the date. The news about Air Wisconsin came right after PSA Airlines announced it was moving its corporate headquarters from Dayton to Charlotte, N.C. That news was a blow to Dayton, which for years could claim to be home to the only airline based in Ohio. PSA said some Dayton-based employees have been invited to move to its North Carolina headquarters. PSA says it will still have about 550 employees in Dayton. Air Wisconsin said its fleet of 60 CRJ-200 aircrafts (with 50 seats each) is well-suited to serve "Essential Air Service" program markets where smaller and efficient aircraft are in high demand. The carrier said it is now also focusing on serving the charter market, like the air travel needs of NCAA collegiate sports teams. "This strategic shift underscores our adaptability and commitment to delivering reliable, customized air travel solutions where they are most needed," Robert Binns, president and CEO of Air Wisconsin, said in a prepared statement last month. "As we diversify into EAS and grow our charter operations, we remain committed to delivering safe, efficient, and quality service to every community and customer we serve." Air Wisconsin Airlines says it has provided regional aviation services since 1965. The company also filed a layoff notice with the state of Wisconsin on Thursday, saying it would affect 513 employees in that state. The company said it expects to share more information about "alternative flying opportunities" in coming weeks.
