The Rises and Falls Of Midway Airlines: The First Deregulation Airline
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- čas přidán 20. 08. 2024
- As the first airline to make a name for itself once regulations dropped in 1978, Midway Airlines set a goal for itself to provide low-cost air services out of Chicago's Midway Airport. Little did they know that their aggressive expansion plans would catch up to them twice when the world plunges into financially devastating global events out of their control.
IATA Code: ML / JI (Revival)
IACO Code: MDW
Callsign: "Midway"
Years Active: 1979 - 1991 / 1993 - 2003 (Revival)
Headquarters: Chicago, IL / Raleigh, NC
Primary Hub: Chicago (MDW) / Raleigh-Durham (RDU) (Revival)
Focus Cities/Former Hubs: Miami (MIA), Fort Lauderdale (FLL) / Chicago (MDW) (Revival)
Fate: Bankrupt, Liquidated / Bankrupt, Liquidated (Revival)
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Have a suggestion for another airline? Let us know!
Pls New York Air or Air cal. They were both small but great airlines
Dan air
VARIG
Perhaps some more legacy carrier: Pan American or Trans World.
@@amalayperson7208 He already made Eastern
I worked for the original Midway Airlines in Kansas City. I was a veteran of the industry having worked for several airlines and working my way up the management ladder. The reason for not sticking with one employer was due to layoffs and bankruptcies. My experience with Midway was that the bureaucracy of the airline and numerous reporting procedures after each flight made the company make the Federal Government look like a well oiled machine in comparison. When they announced their plans to make Philadelphia a second hub I decided that they were asking for trouble long term and began looking for a new job outside of the airline industry. I was fortunate to find one close to my house that offered a reasonable salary, a regular Monday thru Friday workweek, and a less stressful work environment. It's too bad that Midway didn't survive because they were a good airline and had an extremely dedicated staff.
In 1991 I needed to travel from Omaha, Nebraska to Madison, Wisconsin the following week. I was booked for Midway Airlines, to Madison via Chicago-Midway. At that time I purchased the tickets via telephone, but the airline would not allow me to pick up the tickets at the airport, but mandated that they send me the tickets via FedEx Next Day Delivery. The tickets never came, never came, never came... Finally, on the morning of my departure, I proceeded to the airport with my luggage, walked up to the Midway Ticket Counter, identified myself and explained the situation. The agent rolled her eyes, adding this was a typical problem lately, made a few quick taps on her computer keyboard, and issue the tickets to me on the spot with many apologies. So, away I fly. After a short lay over in Chicago, I board the plane for the next leg of my flight on a twin engine turbo-prop. It soon came apparent, that this plane had issues which needed to be repaired. After an "interesting" flight we did land safely at Madison. Upon driving to and arriving at Omaha a week later, I was informed by my office that my tickets arrived four days after I departed. Midway Airlines went out of business and ceased operations a week or two later.
Did she tap her keys and roll her eyes?
@@johnmccarthy1499 As a natter of fact she did! Not because of me, but because of the stupid airline policy...
Midway was in trouble. Fiscally strong companies don't behave this way.
My family’s first flight together was to Disney via Midway out of MDW in the early 90s. It’s the first flight that I really remember, I was 10 or something. So excited.
Welcome Back, We Hope 😉 You Make More Histories Of More Airlines.
I worked for Midway Airlines in Chicago reservations from 1987-1988. Fun times. As employees, we could fly standby anywhere on the system totally free, it was great.
i see your Name Amtran727 did you work for ATA reservations as well ? I did both at Oakbrook and Chicago North by Ohare?
@@johnmccarthy1499No, at ATA I only worked as a flight attendant, never in res.
Cool I worked in Rez than Transferred out to Airport to MDW in 1995-1998 I started in Rez in 1993
Worked for Midway. In 1991, NWA was in no position to purchase the carrier, having been raided by Al Checchi in a LBO in 1989 and emerging $3 billion in debt. Checchi amassed a fortune of $700 million alone from the deal. The Kuwaiti invasion and first Persian Gulf war took its toll on NWA as well. In 1991 the airline had requested and received loans from the state of Minnesota to continue operating and also build a maintenance facility in outstate Minnesota. NWA absolutely did not bargain in good faith and the deal fell through. The only carrier to benefit from the failed deal was Herb Kelleher and Southwest Airlines, who took over the majority of the gates on the A concourse, and eventually, the B concourse.
I enjoyed working for the original Midway it was a great group of people
Welcome back! it has been a minute hasn’t it?
Yes it certainly has :)
Super glad this series is back. Would love to see airlines like SkyBus, Aloha, or New York Air
Nice, I thought you’d never upload again, welcome back
Welcome back!
:D
Welcome back Andrew! Another AWESOME video! Can you do one on RenoAir? I've always had a fascination with that airline.
My grandfather worked for both Midways and RenoAir. I grew up with all grew 3.
You’re back!!
YAY, im so glad this channels back, i really like it
Thanks for coming back. The videos are amazing. Please keep making them.
Make the rise and fall of pan am please
Oh yeahh, you're back mann :D
It’s interesting that ticket prices are still basically the same.
Welcome back Andrew! We have been waiting for a long time.
I remember Midway Airlines as kid !!
I initially thought this was about Midwest Express and was perplexed why you started talking about Chicago (as Midwest Express was beloved in my hometown of Milwaukee)
Nice to see you back
Sad, but Great video. I lost my job with Midway on September 12th.
Great video! Really liked hearing about this airline especially in the RDU area.
12:28 you can actually see them losing money off the table!
Welcome back bro!
I work for the original Midway Airlines in the mid-80s we were based on LaGuardia at the time it was well-loved it was well-liked but management made very critical errors Chief among those was picking up a bunch of Old Eastern aircraft and another cold weather Hub it doomed them and then when they declared bankruptcy they completely went out of business instead of seeking protection under chapter 7 or chapter 8 whatever it is called they just flat out went bankrupt didn't need to do that either Midway had a loyal public and they had a real Niche that they could have exploited using Chicago Midway Airport when they got away from that and over-expanded that was when they got into trouble
It was foolish to take on USAir in PHL. Midway had a big long ticket counter there. I booked many fights and knew Midway was in for a fight when USAir, the main east coast hub carrier lowered ticket prices.
Where did you go?
My only flight on Midway was back in 2001, the day they announced their bankruptcy 😂
You're back! What happened to you? Were you busy with personal life?
Internship/University happened :)
@@andrewsaviation7792 Oh, okay. Great to have you back!
Kingfisher no better story