Bye-bye Midwest Airlines; new owner to use Frontier Airlines name for both operations

Midwest Airlines name dropped in favor of Frontier

MINNEAPOLIS — The Midwest Airlines name is going away.

Republic Airways Holdings Inc. owns both Midwest and Frontier Airlines. It says it will begin using the Frontier name for the operations of both carriers.

Republic CEO Bryan Bedford says the Frontier brand is associated with low fares, and the Midwest name is not. Midwest was based in Milwaukee, which has become a hot spot of airline competition with both Southwest Airlines and AirTran.

Republic bought Midwest and Frontier last year. Frontier is based in Denver and is bigger than Midwest Airlines.

Bedford says travelers may see the Midwest name on some jets until October 2011. The company is also merging the frequent-flier programs of the two airlines.