AirTran's plan to buy Midwest Airlines in late 2007 failed, but it's still determined to take away part of Midwest's business with a new marketing plan - along with a big increase in flights from Milwaukee’s Mitchell International Airport.
Atlanta is still AirTran's largest hub, and the carrier had hoped to convert Milwaukee into its northern hub by buying Midwest. That hostile takeover attempt failed in August 2007 when AirTran was outbid by TPG Capital and Northwest.
Now AirTran is adding 11 more daily departures from Milwaukee - up from its current schedule of 19 daily departures. AirTran is expected this week to announce details of its expanded Milwaukee schedule, including new destinations of Minneapolis, St. Louis, Denver and Branson, Missouri.