Air Wisconsin

Air Wisconsin is walking away from a federally-subsidized Essential Air Services contract less than two months after securing it.

Charter airline Air Wisconsin is reportedly being sold to a Florida-based private aviation company and selling some of its CRJ-200s.

A protest letter from a regional airport has offered new insight into the collapse of a roughly two-year partnership between Air Wisconsin and American.

Earlier this year, American ended its capacity contract with the carrier, leaving it with no regularly scheduled flights since early April.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, more unique Essential Air Service proposals have been submitted by a wider variety of airlines.

Air Wisconsin plans to make hundreds of additional job cuts, following the end of its contract with American on April 3.

Air Wisconsin has been around since the 1960s but mostly operated under different airlines’ banners since 1985, when it operated for United Express.

After its contract with American ended this week, Air Wisconsin’s future remains up in the air. Its last batch of scheduled flights left Chicago Thursday.

Unionized workers will be temporarily laid off, the airline said, while management and non-union cuts will be permanent. 

On the heels of its breakup with CRJ-200 operator Air Wisconsin, American is also detailing plans to end all 50-seat service from Chicago this summer.