Chicago-Based Airline to Cut Flight Schedule 25%

Midway Airlines will cut its flight schedule by about one quarter starting Friday, suspending service to three cities and reducing flights to several others.

The Chicago-based airline will drop 39 of its 155 daily flights in a cutback of unprofitable service on its business-class Metrolink routes, according to Michael Kaeser, Midway spokesman.

Midway said 48 employees were affected. Most will be laid off, although some may be relocated in other positions with the airline, he said.

Midway said it will discontinue service to Newark, N.J., and Milwaukee. The carrier will eliminate non-stop service between Detroit and Washington and between Chicago and White Plains, N.Y.

In addition, Midway said it notified the government that it intends to suspend service to Topeka, Kan., in 90 days or sooner if another carrier takes over service between there and Chicago. Meanwhile, Midway will reduce flights on the route to two a day from three.

Flights will be reduced between Chicago and the following cities: Dallas, Philadelphia, Detroit and Washington.

Midway will inaugurate non-stop flights between Washington National Airport and White Plains on Feb. 15.

The airline, which lost $7.6 million in the first nine months of 1984, is in the middle of a management shake-up. David Hinson will replace Arthur Bass as Midway’s chairman and chief executive officer Friday.

After the cutback, Midway Metrolink will serve 10 cities: Chicago, Minneapolis, Cleveland, Detroit, Washington, Kansas City, Philadelphia, White Plains, Dallas and New York.

The cutback won’t affect service on Midway Express, Midway’s service to Florida and the Virgin Islands.