Over 500 workers will be let go by Air Wisconsin
when it terminates its affiliation with American Airlines
, according to a Notice of Workforce Reduction from the carrier. The airline will stop using the American Eagle name and switch to other revenue models, such as charter and government-subsidized operations, as part of a strategy change that includes the layoffs.
Over 500 employees set to lose jobs
About 513 workers will be impacted by workforce cutbacks, according to the notice that Air Wisconsin sent to the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD) on January 30, 2025. Of those, 294 are unionized workers, and 219 are managerial or salaried personnel. It is anticipated that the layoffs will start on or around March 31, 2025, or the two weeks that follow.
Photo: Air Wisconsin
Tina Vos, vice president of human resources at Air Wisconsin, stated in the notice that the firm is “unable to assess the extent” of the job cutbacks at this time and that it will rely on the company’s ability to locate new flying opportunities. The company is exploring alternative routes, including Essential Air Service
(EAS) to underserved rural communities, and will provide more information in the coming weeks.
“It is likely that the Company’s strategy will involve some level of company-wide workforce reductions, although at this point, the Company is unable to assess the extent of those reductions,” the notice said. “At this time, the reductions are expected to be temporary for our unionized employees and permanent for management/salaried employees. The duration of the reduction is unknown and will be dependent on alternative flying opportunities.“
Photo: Air Wisconsin
Pilots, flight attendants, mechanics, dispatchers, and other employees at Appleton International Airport and Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport
are among the employment categories that are anticipated to be impacted by the layoffs. According to the notice, management and salaried staff will see permanent cutbacks, while union
personnel will experience temporary layoffs.
The unionized workforce at Air Wisconsin is represented by multiple labor groups, including the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), the Airline Pilots Association (ALPA), the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA), and the Transportation Workers Union of America (TWU). According to the carrier, the reductions will likely affect a range of roles, but it’s unclear which specific positions will be hit the hardest.
Related
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This won’t affect flights or flight services at the airport, Harold Mester, director of public affairs and marketing for the Milwaukee airport, told the Milwaukee Business Journal.
Air Wisconsin’s strategic shift
Air Wisconsin announced a major change to its agreement with American Airlines on January 10, 2025. The regional carrier said that once its capacity purchase deal expires in April, it would switch to a codeshare and interline arrangement with American, rather than continue to operate under the American Eagle name. The airline believes its fleet of 60 CRJ200
regional jets, with their efficiency and smaller capacity, is ideally suited to these EAS routes.
Air Wisconsin has already submitted proposals to the US Department Of Transportation
to provide EAS in Burlington, Iowa, and Quincy, Illinois, as the airline moves to other commercial endeavors, according to a December 2024 Aviation Geeks article. The business is moving away from its traditional position as an American Airlines regional subsidiary and toward charter and subsidized government services. Federally funded Essential Air Service routes link larger airports with smaller communities, frequently offering essential rural transportation choices.
Along with concentrating on EAS, Air Wisconsin is growing its charter business, especially in the college sports industry. The airline has observed an increase in demand for charter services, partly due to the longer travel times for teams as a result of the NCAA sporting leagues’ realignment.
“This strategic shift underscores our adaptability and commitment to delivering reliable, customized air travel solutions where they are most needed,” Robert Binns, President & CEO of Air Wisconsin, said in the statement. “As we diversify into EAS and grow our charter operations, we remain committed to delivering safe, efficient, and quality service to every community and customer we serve.“
