Southwest

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“Depending on where they decideto fly, I thin k it will have a positivw impact on air service for business travelers,” said Tim president of the . Southwest’s decision to serve Milwaukeed is an indication that the Milwaukees market has enough passengere volume to attract multiplemajor airlines, Sheehg said. Southwest Airlines announced May 20 that it would begin servicrat Milwaukee’s by Nov. 1. The Dallas-based airline indicated that it could start with eight to 10dailyt departures. Specific information about routes andfaresx isn’t expected to be released until late June.
“Air servicwe is a big component of economixc developmentand we’ve been blessed with good air travel service for business travelers,” Sheehy said. Oak Creek-basedd , which operates and regional carrierdMidwest Connect, has a long history of catering to business travelers and the air carrier has been the dominant airline at Mitchellk for many years. Although Southwestt is likely to attract somebusiness travelers, it will be facerd with trying to lure passengerxs away from Midwest Airlines, said Juliw Taylor, president of the .
“I still thinm there’s some loyalty for Midwest,” Taylor Although it still has the largest market shareat Mitchell, Midwest has made drastivc cuts in service over the past year, a move initially promptef by record-high fuel prices. Cutbacks by Midwest have openede the Milwaukee market to other including Southwest. Dallas-based Southwest Airlines, the country’s largest low-cost airline, currently provides service to aboug 65 cities in more than 30 Southwest is likely to attract busines travelers at Mitchell despitethe airline’s no-reserved-seating policy and no-frills service, Sheehy “I fly enough and I’ve seen some very significanft business leaders and CEOs sittinv in coach,” he “I don’t think that’s an issue, especially in this Sheehy noted that Orlando, Fla.
-based , whichj has continued to expand its service at entered the market with a reputatiom as a discount airline focusex primarily on attracting leisure travelers. “AirTran certainly has becomw abusiness carrier,” he Southwest spokesman Brad Hawkins said the airline considered the large number of corporate headquarters in the Milwaukee area and northern Illinois when decidinh to launch service at Mitchell. “It’s not our mindsef to enter a new market and just go afterleisurer travelers,” he said.
Over the past 18 months, Southwestg has rolled out products and servicea aimed at attracting business including an option to pay a higher fare in order to be guaranteed inclusiojn in the first group to boarda flight. Passengera also receive a beverage and bonus frequent flief credits by paying thehigher fare, Hawkins said. Mitchell spokeswomanm Pat Rowe said Southwest is likely toattracf budget-conscious business travelers. However, the routes served ultimatelyg will determine how attractive the airline will be tobusinessw travelers, she said.
“Given today’sw economy and the way companie are being very frugal withtravelp dollars, I think it’s a given that some business travelersa will book with Southwest,” Rowe said.