Midwest Airlines to resume nonstop RDU to Milwaukee flights in April

Midwest Airlines is returning to Raleigh-Durham International Airport, again.

Starting April 1, Midwest Airlines will resume two daily nonstop flights between RDU and Milwaukee. The carrier cut the service in September 2008 as the economy slumped and fuel prices surged.

The Milwaukee-based carrier, which was bought by Republic Airways Holdings this year, also stopped service at RDU after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, then restarted it in 2007. Republic also announced plans today to expand in Milwaukee and add 800 jobs.

About 50,000 people a year travel between RDU and Milwaukee, making it a popular destination without nonstop service, said RDU spokeswoman Mindy Hamlin.

RDU officials are continuing efforts to attract other nonstop flights, especially to the West Coast, she added.

The Midwest Airlines news follows other recent announcements from airlines expanding service at RDU. JetBlue Airways recently announced that it will launch two additional daily flights between RDU and Boston next summer. Southwest Airlines will begin one daily nonstop flight to St. Louis in May.

To mark the return of RDU flights, Midwest Airlines will offer a sale on tickets to and from RDU: $89 one way if tickets are purchased by Nov. 30 for travel through June 30.

With the addition of nonstop flights to RDU and San Francisco in April, Midwest Airlines will offer direct service from Milwaukee to 34 cities.