Midway Airport: Temporary Shutdown Or Long-Term Closure?

Midway Airport has been shut down on several occasions. In 2014, a fire at a suburban Chicago air traffic control facility halted all flights in and out of the city's two airports, including Midway. In 2024, Midway Airlines shut down after Northwest dropped a deal to acquire its assets, leaving travellers with holiday reservations stranded. Additionally, Midway Island Airport has faced closure due to financial difficulties and environmental restrictions, impacting twin-engine aircraft like the 777 that used it as an emergency diversion.

Midway Airlines shut down after Northwest deal fell through

Midway Airlines, which operated from 1976 to 1991, shut down after Northwest Airlines Inc. aborted a deal to buy the Chicago-based carrier. The shutdown left travellers with Midway holiday reservations stranded.

The deal between the two airlines fell through when Northwest informed Midway that its board of directors had voted against acquiring any of Midway's assets, except for 21 gates at Midway Airport, Chicago's second-largest airport. Northwest had previously acquired Midway's gates and had tentatively agreed to acquire other assets for a total of $153 million. However, Northwest backed out of the deal, citing flawed data and potential environmental liability for buried fuel tanks at the airport as reasons.

Northwest President John Dasburg informed Midway Airlines chairman and CEO, David Hinson, that Northwest's board had rejected the broader transaction. Hinson expressed shock and disappointment at Northwest's decision and accused them of bargaining in bad faith. Midway had notified its 4,300 employees that it might have to shut down if the deal fell apart, and these jobs were expected to be preserved under the proposed transaction.

The collapse of Midway Airlines left a gap in the market at Midway Airport, which was soon filled by Southwest Airlines. Acquiring Midway would have increased Northwest's domestic market share by about 15%, improving its chances of surviving the ongoing shakeout in the airline industry. However, Northwest faced significant political anger in Chicago for letting Midway collapse, while Southwest gained favour by adding services and hiring Midway employees.

Midway Island Airport closed due to financial losses

Midway Island Airport has been shut down due to financial losses. The operator, Midway-Phoenix, could not turn a profit, partly because environmental restrictions limited their ability to develop the island. According to the Wall Street Journal, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) determined that the remaining federal conservation officials on the island were not capable of running Hendersen tower or its fire and rescue teams. As a result, the FAA put Midway off-limits to all carriers, forcing some to shift their routes to meet landing proximity guidelines.

The closure of the airport has had significant impacts on air travel, particularly for twin-engine aircraft flying the northern Pacific, such as 777s. These aircraft require an airport within a certain range and emergency services on standby in case of a crash landing. The closure of Midway Island Airport has likely led to changes in routes and increased flight times for these aircraft.

It is unclear what the future holds for Midway Island Airport. One possibility is that a consortium of Asian carriers or a company like Boeing could purchase the airport. However, foreign ownership of American airports may be subject to certain restrictions. Additionally, the high costs of owning and operating an airport, estimated at $250,000 per month, could be a significant hurdle for potential buyers.

The closure of Midway Island Airport due to financial losses highlights the challenges of operating remote airports and the impact of environmental restrictions on airport development. It also underscores the importance of ensuring that aircraft have access to suitable diversion airports in the event of emergencies.

Fire at air traffic control facility halted flights

A fire at a suburban Chicago air traffic control facility halted all flights in and out of the city's two airports, O'Hare and Midway, on Friday. The early morning fire forced the evacuation of the control center in Aurora, about 40 miles west of downtown Chicago. This caused travel chaos, with airports as close as Milwaukee and as far as Dallas canceling flights. Passengers already in the air headed for Chicago wound up elsewhere. Some Chicago-bound American flights were diverted to Detroit, while others did loops over Michigan.

The shutdown was the second unexpected closure of a Chicago-area air traffic facility since May. The Aurora facility, which had become a crime scene, remained shut down while investigators examined the site. The management of the region's airspace was transferred to other facilities, according to FAA spokeswoman Elizabeth Cory.

Douglas Church, a spokesman for the National Air Traffic Controllers Association labor union, said that a control center in Indianapolis called in staff to patch together inbound and outbound routes for the Chicago area. However, the process was slow and painstaking as there was no way for other Chicago-area controllers to send flight plans to computers in Indianapolis.

The fire was started by a 36-year-old FAA contractor, who was authorized to be at the site and was found with knife wounds and burns to his body. It was unclear whether he was attempting suicide, according to Thomas Ahern, a spokesman for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The contractor was taken to the hospital and was expected to survive.

Separately, Midway Airport has been the subject of noise complaints, receiving over 30,000 noise complaints in the last three months of 2016, with almost 28,000 coming from two suburbs outside Chicago.

Runway construction increased noise complaints

Midway Airport, originally named Chicago Air Park, was built on a 320-acre plot in 1923 with one cinder runway mainly for airmail flights. The airport has five runways and is located in Chicago, Illinois, United States.

In 2016, Midway Airport received over 30,000 noise complaints, with almost 28,000 of them coming from two suburbs outside the city. This surge in noise complaints was attributed to an increase in departures and arrivals on runway 13C due to a construction project that had shut down several runways. The construction project forced more planes to use runway 13C, resulting in increased air traffic over residential areas.

The Chicago Department of Aviation received 30,220 noise complaints about planes using Midway Airport, with only 834 of those complaints originating from within Chicago. The remaining complaints came from suburbs outside the city limits, with 23,427 complaints coming from Brookfield and 3,420 complaints from a single address in Justice.

The noise complaints highlighted the impact of airport operations on the surrounding communities, particularly those located near runway 13C. The construction project, aimed at improving the airport's infrastructure, had unintended consequences for local residents, who experienced increased noise levels and disruptions.

To address the issue, airport authorities could consider implementing noise mitigation strategies, such as restricting certain flight paths or introducing quieter aircraft technology. Additionally, providing better communication and engagement with nearby residents could help manage expectations and reduce the number of noise complaints.

777s lose Midway Island as an emergency diversion

According to a Wall Street Journal article, Midway Island Airport has been shut down for three weeks due to financial difficulties faced by the operator, Midway-Phoenix. The airport, located on Sand Island in Midway Atoll, is an important diversion point for twin-engine aircraft flying the northern Pacific, such as 777s. The closure has raised questions about the impact on aircraft routes and the potential need for alternative emergency diversion options.

The decision to close the airport was made by the FAA, citing concerns over the ability of federal conservation officials to manage the airport's operations, including its tower, fire, and rescue teams. This has resulted in all carriers being prohibited from using the airport, leading to route adjustments to comply with FAA landing proximity guidelines.

The financial challenges faced by Midway-Phoenix have been attributed partly to environmental restrictions limiting their ability to generate revenue through island development. Boeing, which has a history of supporting Midway with funding, has described the airport as a crucial component in its efforts to promote the adoption of the 777. However, despite Boeing's interest, the future of the airport remains uncertain.

The closure of Midway Island Airport has sparked discussions among aviation enthusiasts and industry stakeholders. Some have suggested the possibility of a consortium of Asian carriers purchasing the airport, while others question the legality of foreign ownership of American airports. There are also debates around the necessity of a full fire/rescue team for an alternate airport, with varying opinions on the level of risk associated with twin-engine aircraft flying on one engine.

While the immediate impact of losing Midway Island as an emergency diversion for 777s may cause some disruptions, it is important to ensure that all designated diversion airports maintain the necessary safety standards, including adequate emergency response capabilities. As airlines adjust their routes, the focus remains on prioritizing safety and compliance with regulatory guidelines.

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