Milwaukee County’s General Mitchell International Airport (MKE) had a busy and successful year in 2014, and with a new airline, new air service and the completion of a major project that will improve the passenger experience at MKE, 2015 is shaping up to be another exciting year.
"Airport staff continued to aggressively pursue expanded air service and landed highly-regarded Alaska Airlines, which begins service in July, as well as a new nonstop city on Southwest, San Diego," said Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele. "With our low airfares, a dynamic and comfortable travel environment and easy parking and access, Mitchell Airport is well positioned as a gateway to Milwaukee and the state of Wisconsin, as well as northern Illinois and Chicago."
Passenger traffic at MKE followed the national trend of modest but positive growth in 2014. The airport finished the year with a total of 6,554,152 passengers, an increase of 0.44 percent over 2013. Average airfares at MKE also continued to remain lower than 77 of the top 100 airports in the United States. MKE’s average airfares were $33 less than the national average and $58 less than Chicago’s O’Hare, continuing a seven-year trend of lower average airfares as compared to O’Hare.
2014 was the first year an international airline, AeroMexico, has flown winter charters for Funjet and Apple Vacations.
The airport saw a number of improvements in 2014 ranging from large scale reconstruction projects to smaller passenger amenities. In June, Mitchell Airport and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) unveiled the airport’s new in-line baggage screening system. The $30 million project removed the large screening machines that had been in the ticketing area at the airport and moved them behind the scenes to create a more efficient screening and baggage handling system. The project also returned the ticketing area to its spacious pre-9/11 configuration, creating a better overall passenger experience.
Other airport improvements included the installation of portable electronic device charging stations throughout the gate areas, the installation of electric vehicle charging stations in the parking garage and the remodeling of the children’s play areas on all three concourses.
In addition to its role in the baggage screening system project, TSA also expanded its TSA Precheck program in 2014, making the passenger experience faster and more convenient. This expansion included the opening of a PreCheck enrollment center conveniently located across the street from the airport. U.S. Customs and Border Protection also expanded its trusted traveler program, Global Entry, at MKE by installing self-serve kiosks in the International Arrivals Terminal to expedite processing of travelers arriving in Milwaukee from abroad.
In another self-serve innovation, HMS Host completed a full renovation of its Miller Brewhouse restaurant in the main terminal, complete with self-serve draft beer taps. Customers can take a seat at one of two tables outfitted with built-in beer taps offering a variety of local and national brews, a first of its kind in Milwaukee.
Looking ahead to 2015
Passengers have a lot to look forward to at MKE in 2015. A new airline, new nonstop flights and the completion of the Baggage Claim Renovation Project will bring more amenities and travel options to travelers.
Announced last fall, Alaska Airlines will become the eighth airline to serve MKE when it begins daily nonstop service from Milwaukee to Seattle on July 1st. The new service will open up additional easy one-stop connections for a number of cities in the Pacific Northwest and Hawaii.
West coast travelers can also look forward to nonstop service to a new city when Southwest Airlines begins Saturday flights from Milwaukee to San Diego on April 11.
In January, Frontier Airlines also added nonstop service from Milwaukee to Orlando and Fort Myers.
In addition to Alaska, Southwest and Frontier, Milwaukee is also served by Air Canada, American, Delta, United and US Airways. It is the only airport in Wisconsin or Illinois with service from all the major domestic carriers, and has nonstop service to 36 destinations, with convenient one-stop service to more than 160 cities worldwide.
Summer 2015 will also bring the completion of the airport’s $45 million Baggage Claim Renovation Project. The interior and exterior of the building are being fully rebuilt, including new baggage handling systems, large windows and skylights to provide natural light, terrazzo floors and the addition of a new glass canopy extending over the vehicle roadway. The renovations will create an improved customer experience and first impression for Milwaukee. The first phase of the project opened to the public on Sept. 3, 2014.
