If AirTran Acquires Midwest, what happens at CAK?

If there is one thing that I’ve learned in my eleven years in the airport biz, it’s that there is never a dull moment in the airline biz. Right now, one of the biggest topics in the industry, besides the crazy antiquated ATC system (a post for another day) is the AirTran/ Midwest acquisition.

AirTran has been working for most of the past year to merge with Midwest. The idea has merit. Both carriers have a fleet of Boeing 717s; both companies need to have expanded networks to compete with the large US legacy carriers; and both companies take care of their customers. Midwest wasn’t too hip to the idea though…until their shareholders tendered a majority of their shares to AirTran, directing them to at least talk to the boys.

Fast forward to now. Midwest has up to four potential suitors, including the determined AirTran Airways. AirTran is the largest carrier at Akron-Canton Airport and the second largest LCC in the Cleveland+, Ohio region. They offer seven different nonstop destinations and move approximately 60,000 people a month through our place. They have lowered fares to hot destinations like New York LaGuardia, Boston, Atlanta and Las Vegas. They also support a variety of community organizations like the Wolstein Center at Cleveland State University, the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the Akron Symphony Orchestra. They have been wonderful partners in our community.

So, what will happen if these two savvy airlines merge? Well, we hope they would add Milwaukee service from CAK, taking our nonstop offerings to eight destinations. Our current Chicago area offerings are pretty limited (3 nonstops on United daily), so Milwaukee would help. Plus, AirTran will offer connections to a variety of places from there, so it will give us more opportunities to get out west. Milwaukee isn’t as congested as O’Hare which means fewer delays and missed flights. Eventually, we'd like to score nonstop service to Kansas City too!

We are as anxious/ excited as any community affected by this merger to see how it turns out.

Comments

Happy New Years to my neighbors out at Akron/Canton. Continue the tremendous work you do at your airport. Most airports are jealous of how well you have grown in just a 10 year span, and will continue growing in the future. I have flown it 10+ times in the last couple years, and will continue using it.

Right now my coalition of Airport Supporters are trying to help out the struggling Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport. They have done a successful job with flights to Orlando aboard Allegiant Air (ALGT-Nasdaq), but they have not done much since then.

YNG needs to look at how well CAK has done over the years and perhaps take some tips from you guys. You run a very successful operation and should be commended for IT! You earn my award for the best airport in Ohio and the best operation of any government funded operation in the region.

GOOD LUCK IN 2007!

Let us know your thoughts

Name

Email Address   optional   (will not appear online)

URL   http://yoursite - optional   (will appear online)

Comments   (Some HTML is OK)

We welcome all comments related to the content of this blog but we reserve the right not to publish any comment that includes illicit or lewd language or content.