SKYWAY AIRLINES

'Skyway Airlines' is an American commuter airline based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The airline operates as Midwest Connect for Midwest Airlines, feeding Midwest's hubs at General Mitchell International Airport with 12 32-seat aircraft.

Contents

History

Destinations

Fleet

History

Skyway Airlines, The Midwest Express Connection, began flight operations as Midwest Express' commuter airline division on April 17, 1989 in Milwaukee. All flights were originally operated by the Mesa Air Group. In 1994, a new airline called Astral Aviation, operating as Skyway Airlines, was formed as a subsidiary of Midwest Express Airlines to operate commuter flights, replacing Mesa. Skyway's (operated by Astral Aviation) first flight was from Milwaukee to Flint, Michigan on 15 February 1994. The original fleet were Beech 1900C airliners which were replaced by the roomier Beech 1900Ds. These aircraft and were used to connect Milwaukee with small communities in Wisconsin and the surrounding region. In 1999, the airline acquired five Dornier 328JET aircraft to expand their operations. An additional five aircraft were added to the fleet in following years. Two more 328 Jets were added in the fall of 2006. Skyway has recently reduced its Beechcraft 1900 fleet by several aircraft.
The airline changed its name from Astral Aviation, Inc., d/b/a Skyway Airlines, the Midwest Express Connection to Skyway Airlines, Inc. d/b/a Midwest Connect in March 2003, at the same time Midwest Express Airlines changed its name to Midwest Airlines. Both Midwest Airlines and Skyway Airlines are wholly owned divisions of Midwest Air Group. Skyway Airlines has 637 employees (at March 2007).^[1]

Destinations

Main articles: Skyway Airlines destinations

'Skyway Airlines' currently flies to 25 destinations throughout Canada and the United States. However, the airline is ending service to/from Marquette, Michigan on September 30, 2007, decreasing its destination count to 24.

Fleet

As of September 2007, the Skyway Airlines fleet includes 19 aircraft:

'Skyway Airlines Fleet'

Aircraft	Total	Passengers (Economy)	Routes	Notes
Beechcraft 1900	7	19	Commuter	All operate as Midwest Connect
Fairchild-Dornier 328JET	12	32	Commuter	All operate as Midwest Connect

★ All Midwest Connect aircraft feature leather seating, and jet aircraft feature freshly baked cookies on select routes.