Friday, January 1, 2010

Southwest Airlines Boosts Milwaukee Traffic

General Mitchell International Airport (MKE/KMKE) had its busiest November ever last month, thanks in part to the launching of service there by Southwest Airlines Co., Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker said Tuesday.

The November total of 725,048 passengers was an increase of 37.96 percent compared with last November’s 525,565 passengers, and for the first time more than 700,000 passengers used the airport in the month of November.

Walker noted that there were 34 percent more airline seats into and out of Milwaukee this November compared with a year ago, and almost 200,000 more passengers.

“Southwest Airlines started service to Mitchell in November, and attracted many new passengers from Wisconsin and northern Illinois with its popular, well-known brand,” he said.

Dallas-based Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) launched its Mitchell service Nov. 1 with 12 flights to six destinations. The airline captured 8.7 percent of the market share at the airport in its first month of operation, a strong enough debut to make it the fourth-busiest carrier in Milwaukee, according to airport data released Tuesday.

“The northern Chicago suburbs now have low-fare air service just a 45-minute drive away," airport director Barry Bateman said. "With 12 airlines and nearly 220 daily departures, Mitchell has become one of the most price-competitive airports in the nation."


(The Business Journal of Milwaukee)

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