Midway Airlines Ends Operations

Midway Airlines, the nation’s 12th-largest airline, announced late Wednesday that it was ceasing operations. The announcement came hours after Northwest Airlines said it had scrapped plans to buy Midway.

Chicago-based Midway said it would shut down at midnight Wednesday.

The airline operates five daily flights from Los Angeles International Airport to Chicago and has about 50 employees in Los Angeles, according to one employee reached by phone late Wednesday.

Michael Vega, Midway’s lead maintenance mechanic in Los Angeles, said the news hit employees like a “big-time bombshell. It just blew up in our faces. Everyone had it in their minds that they’d be with Northwest.”

Vega, 29, said he is worried that he won’t be able to find another job as an airline maintenance mechanic.

Earlier, Northwest Airlines said it will not buy Midway because the carrier provided false information about past business.

Northwest spokesman Mark Abels said that since his carrier was misled by Midway on its 1990 traffic and revenue, Northwest underestimated by $35 million the amount it would cost to run the airline each year.

In a statement, Midway said: “As a result of Northwest Airlines’ unilateral decision to withdraw from its commitment to acquire substantially all of Midway’s assets, effective midnight, Wednesday, Nov. 13, Midway will cease operations.”

A recording on Midway’s reservations phone line advised ticket holders to contact their travel and credit agencies.

“Midway deeply regrets the inconvenience caused to our loyal customers by the cancellation of all Midway service,” the recording said.