Having originally intended to launch operations in late 2019 or early 2020, Midwest Express Airlines (Milwaukee General Mitchell) has revised its plans and is now mooting an April debut, John Pearsall, the president of capacity-provider Elite Airways (MNU, Portland International Jetport), told the Milwaukee Business Journal.

Midwest Express will launch as a virtual carrier using the brand of Midwest Airlines (Milwaukee General Mitchell), which merged into Frontier Airlines (F9, Denver International) in 2009. For over 25 years, Midwest Airlines was Milwaukee's hometown airline and nationally recognised for great service, non-stop routes, and warm chocolate chip cookies.

When contacted by ch-aviation on the revised plans, Laurie Coleman, Communications Manager at Midwest Express said: "For obvious competitive reasons, we cannot disclose schedule details such as routes, frequencies, aircraft types, etc. until we are ready to make a public announcement."

"I'm just excited to see Midwest Express return," Pearsall said. "We know of their product, love their product." The airline president also mentioned the hand-baked fresh cookies on every flight. "They have their own culture and branding, and I think it's very exciting what they bring to the table."

In a deal which was inked in August 2019, Elite will be providing Midwest Express with some of its CRJ200 and CRJ700 aircraft on a charter basis. According to the ch-aviation fleets module, Elite currently operates one CRJ100(ER), five CRJ200(ER)s, two -LRs, and five CRJ700ERs.

The operator expects to work with Midwest Express for one to two years after the airline's start-up. Pearsall said Midwest Express would transition into a certificated carrier capable of operating its own flights, aircraft and training its own crews.

Midwest Express' first flight destinations from Milwaukee General Mitchell will be to Cincinnati International, Omaha Eppley, and Grand Rapids, MI. Tickets are not yet bookable on the airline's website. According to the ch-aviation schedules module, none of the city pairs selected by the fledgeling airline is served with direct flights.