MILWAUKEE - With an investment led by former CEO and chairman of Midwest Airlines Timothy Hoeksema, OneJet—the air transportation network that provides consumers increased access to nonstop travel in small to mid-size markets—today announced it will open a secondary operating base at Milwaukee County’s General Mitchell International Airport (MKE). Hoeksema will serve in an advisory role, working alongside OneJet executives as air service begins to Columbus and Omaha, starting on Nov. 1. This will complement the company’s existing twice-daily service offered from Milwaukee to Pittsburgh.
“This further expansion into Milwaukee marks our first base outside of Pittsburgh and underscores the growing demand for accessible and convenient nonstop air service in regional markets,” said Matthew Maguire, OneJet CEO. “Milwaukee is an exceptional market for OneJet’s service offering, and we look forward to working with Tim and our other partners in the region as we introduce additional nonstop service options for not only Milwaukee travelers but also for those in our new markets of Columbus and Omaha.”
OneJet opened its first base in Pittsburgh in May 2016 with two daily flights. The company now offers over 160 weekly flights to and from Pittsburgh, with weekday flights to Indianapolis, Hartford, Cincinnati, Richmond, Louisville, Albany, Milwaukee and Providence. OneJet provides exclusive nonstop service to and from these markets, with fast and convenient links for business travelers, including those employed by major corporate customers such as FedEx and PNC Bank.
The GBTA forecasts U.S. business travel spending will grow 4.2 percent or $304.9 billion in 2017. As business travel in the U.S. and passenger traffic at regional airports continue to grow, corporate travelers’ demand for improved air service has increasingly become a priority for local economic leaders and businesses. Since 2015, OneJet has met this need by providing increased service within some of the fastest-growing regional markets.
“The airline industry has undergone substantial structural changes over the past several years with the consolidation of the major network carriers,” said Hoeksema, who is leading the OneJet expansion to Milwaukee. “OneJet, with a right-sized and highly targeted model, is meeting the significant demand for nonstop service alternatives in what are relatively large regional air markets. I look forward to working with the management team to offer a continuing focus on customer service and operational excellence as the OneJet network expands.”
With flights beginning on Nov. 1 to Columbus’ John Glenn Columbus International Airport and Omaha’s Eppley Airfield, OneJet will offer a total of 60 weekly nonstop flights to and from the Milwaukee area:
- MKE to CMH – departing 6:00 a.m. CT; arriving 8:00 a.m. ET
- CMH to MKE – departing 8:20 a.m. ET; arriving 8:20 a.m. CT
- MKE to OMA – departing 8:40 a.m. CT; arriving 10:00 a.m. CT
- OMA to MKE – departing 10:20 a.m. CT; arriving 11:35 a.m. CT
- MKE to CMH – departing 3:00 p.m. CT; arriving 5:00 p.m. ET
- CMH to MKE – departing 5:20 p.m. ET; arriving 5:20 p.m. CT
- MKE to OMA – departing 5:40 p.m. CT; arriving 7:00 p.m. CT
- OMA to MKE – departing 7:20 p.m. CT; arriving 8:35 p.m. CT
