Milwaukee Airport Considers Closing One of Its Three Concourses

Airlines at General Mitchell International Airport in Milwaukee are playing a game of musical chairs, caused in part by a 5% drop in passengers during a 12-month period that ended in February. When the music stops, United Airlines will be the only carrier in Concourse E, which is prompting the airport to consider closing the concourse entirely.

The consolidation would be the latest result of Frontier Airlines’ decision to cut operations at its former hub to just seven daily flights, drastically reducing activity in Concourse D, the airport’s largest concourse. Southwest Airlines is also moving out of Concourse D to consolidate operations with its AirTran Airways subsidiary in Concourse C. That frees up space for Delta Air Lines and US Airways to move into Concourse D. Finally, now that United has merged with Continental Airlines, it wants to consolidate its operations in Concourse E to just 10 gates.

Airport officials would rather see United move into Concourse D. The savings from closing Concourse E could go toward an estimated $1.1 million in upgrades the airport needs to make—from expanding security to relocating pedestrian bridges—to accommodate all the shifts airlines are planning. jsonline.com