Skip to main content

Southwest Airlines Community

New Milwaukee Service This September... and the Future Cometh!

Bill
Employee
Employee

So here we go!  The first joint schedule move by Southwest Airlines and our subsidiary, AirTran Airways—but most definitely, not the last.  And we begin with Milwaukee!!!

Effective September 6th, Southwest will add two daily flights between Milwaukee and St. Louis.  We’ll also add one Southwest Milwaukee-Denver nonstop to complement AirTran’s existing flight in that market, bringing our combined total to two and providing connections to dozens of Southwest destinations via our Mile-High Powerhouse!  On the same day, our colleagues at AirTran will begin two daily nonstop roundtrips between Milwaukee and Des Moines, as well as two daily trips between Milwaukee and Akron-Canton, Ohio.

On the Southwest side, these schedule additions should be instant winners with our Customers to and from Milwaukee.  On the AirTran side, the new service coincides with the end of the marketing agreement between AirTran and SkyWest Airlines. AirTran will contact all affected Customers to assist with travel options, including those announced today. The new Boeing 717 service from Akron-Canton and Des Moines will allow easy alternative arrangements to and from those cities since the 117 seat jet increases capacity from the 50-seat SkyWest service. 

Why am I so excited over three new Southwest roundtrips, and four new AirTran roundtrips?  Simple.  This is the first time we’ve made schedule and market decisions together, as one Company.  This is a MILESTONE, folks!!  And most certainly the shape of things to come.   Welcome to the future, everyone….we’ve got a long road ahead, but the integration of AirTran into Southwest has begun!

3 Comments
Mike_Barnbaum
Explorer B
Hi Bill: OK, so I'm a bit confused here. Beginning on and/or after September 6th, would I be able to successfully purchase a roundtrip on http://www.southwest.com/ from Sacramento to Akron-Canton. My sister, Deborah Barnbaum is a Philosophy Professor at Kent State University. This campus is closer to Akron-Canton than it is to Cleveland. In the past I have flown into Cleveland on Southwest, where she doesn't mind picking me up or dropping me off, but in the scheme of things, I would prefer getting closer by flying into Akron-Canton. Would that be possible now through the Southwest Airlines Website, recognizing of course that the flight would make one stop in Denver plus an additional change of planes in Milwaukee before getting to Akron-Canton? Or for the time being, is this still separate and not yet integrated quite yet? Am I getting a little bit too excited and ahead of myself for some things that are perhaps yet to come, but I just don't know it yet? Please advise. Sincerely, Mike Barnbaum, Rapid Rewards Member in Sacramento, California
Bill
Employee
Employee
Hi Michael, The two networks are not integrated yet. So, for the time being, Southwest remains Southwest, while AirTran remains AirTran. This marks the first time we've made a schedule move together, which is the first step in our becomeing one, and there will be many other steps to come! The entire process will not be quick, so please be patient, and we'll get there! Hope all is well in SMF! Bill
tesg
Explorer C
I'll just venture a guess that this is a good sign that the Southwest brand will be making its way into the Des Moines market eventually. (No no...don't ruin my buzz...)