Skip to content
Transportation | The little airline that could: How Midway…
80°F
Monday, June 8th 2026

eNewspaper

Trending:

People climb aboard a Midway Airlines plane on Aug. 26, 1983, at Midway Airport in Chicago.
James Mayo/Chicago Tribune
People climb aboard a Midway Airlines plane on Aug. 26, 1983, at Midway Airport in Chicago.

The little airline that could: How Midway Airlines saved Chicago’s Southwest Side airport

By | mmather@chicagotribune.com | Chicago Tribune
PUBLISHED: | UPDATED:
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
People climb aboard a Midway Airlines plane on Aug. 26, 1983, at Midway Airport in Chicago.
People climb aboard a Midway Airlines plane on Aug. 26, 1983, at Midway Airport in Chicago.
Mayor Jane Byrne, right, and Irving Tague, second from right, president of Midway Airlines, view a model of a DC-9 jet at a press conference at City Hall on Oct. 22, 1979, in Chicago. The newly formed airline will begin service on Nov. 1, 1979, from Midway Airport to Cleveland, Kansas City and Detroit, as the city tries to promote the underused Southwest Side airport.
Mayor Jane Byrne, right, and Irving Tague, second from right, president of Midway Airlines, view a model of a DC-9 jet at a press conference at City Hall on Oct. 22, 1979, in Chicago. The newly formed airline will begin service on Nov. 1, 1979, from Midway Airport to Cleveland, Kansas City and Detroit, as the city tries to promote the underused Southwest Side airport.
People wait in line to purchase tickets for Midway Airlines at Midway Airport on Aug. 26, 1983, in Chicago.
People wait in line to purchase tickets for Midway Airlines at Midway Airport on Aug. 26, 1983, in Chicago.
Midway Airline jets sit parked on the tarmac in 1984.
Midway Airline jets sit parked on the tarmac in 1984.
Midway Airlines customers mob the counters at Midway Airport to get tickets for less than 50 cents during a promotion on Jan. 27, 1980.
Midway Airlines customers mob the counters at Midway Airport to get tickets for less than 50 cents during a promotion on Jan. 27, 1980.
Midway Airlines CEO David R. Hinson, along with Kitty Freidheim, of the Chicago Department of Aviation, break a champagne bottle next to a new MD-87 aircraft on Nov. 1, 1989, to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Midway Airlines.
Midway Airlines CEO David R. Hinson, along with Kitty Freidheim, of the Chicago Department of Aviation, break a champagne bottle next to a new MD-87 aircraft on Nov. 1, 1989, to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Midway Airlines.
The Stratton clan — 19 in all — arrived 15 hours ahead of time to be sure to get a Midway Airlines flight to Kansas City on Nov. 2, 1979, to visit their mother. The roundtrip fare was 74 cents each.
The Stratton clan — 19 in all — arrived 15 hours ahead of time to be sure to get a Midway Airlines flight to Kansas City on Nov. 2, 1979, to visit their mother. The roundtrip fare was 74 cents each.
Bears coach Mike Ditka tapes a commercial for Midway Airlines in 1987.
Bears coach Mike Ditka tapes a commercial for Midway Airlines in 1987.
Diana Laliberte, from left, Denise Hollinger and Heidi May head for work as flight attendants for Midway Airlines on Oct. 4, 1988.
Diana Laliberte, from left, Denise Hollinger and Heidi May head for work as flight attendants for Midway Airlines on Oct. 4, 1988.
Midway Airlines passengers wait before flight time at Midway Airport on Sept. 28, 1990, in Chicago. Midway Airlines cut employees due to high gas prices.
Midway Airlines passengers wait before flight time at Midway Airport on Sept. 28, 1990, in Chicago. Midway Airlines cut employees due to high gas prices.
Rev. Donald Wheat marries Kathy Smith and Michael Charron aboard a Midway Airlines DC-9 on April 16, 1984. Smith, 28, a Midway flight attendant and Charron, 26, an airline dispatcher, spent about $2,000 to charter the jet for a 30-minute flight around the city for themselves and their guests.
Rev. Donald Wheat marries Kathy Smith and Michael Charron aboard a Midway Airlines DC-9 on April 16, 1984. Smith, 28, a Midway flight attendant and Charron, 26, an airline dispatcher, spent about $2,000 to charter the jet for a 30-minute flight around the city for themselves and their guests.
Midway Airlines employees and the Curie High School band celebrate the airlines' 10th anniversary on Nov. 1, 1989, and the dedication of a new McDonnell Douglas MD-87 jet at Midway Airport.
Midway Airlines employees and the Curie High School band celebrate the airlines’ 10th anniversary on Nov. 1, 1989, and the dedication of a new McDonnell Douglas MD-87 jet at Midway Airport.
Midway Airlines CEO David R. Hinson, right, is joined in the cockpit of one of the new planes by ex-astronaut Pete Conrad prior to the dedication ceremony for the plane on March 30, 1989, at Midway Airport. The new plane was a MD-87 and Midway was the first carrier to introduce the plane to their fleet.
Midway Airlines CEO David R. Hinson, right, is joined in the cockpit of one of the new planes by ex-astronaut Pete Conrad prior to the dedication ceremony for the plane on March 30, 1989, at Midway Airport. The new plane was a MD-87 and Midway was the first carrier to introduce the plane to their fleet.
Brian Levine, 3, is silhouetted against a window at Midway Airport as he watches a Midway Airlines plane being prepared for a flight to Philadelphia on Oct. 10, 1991.
Brian Levine, 3, is silhouetted against a window at Midway Airport as he watches a Midway Airlines plane being prepared for a flight to Philadelphia on Oct. 10, 1991.
Midway Airline employees rally in front of Daley Plaza on Nov. 18, 1991, to show support for Judge Squires who was in the process of deciding the fate of Midway Airlines.
Midway Airline employees rally in front of Daley Plaza on Nov. 18, 1991, to show support for Judge Squires who was in the process of deciding the fate of Midway Airlines.
Midway Airlines employee Chris Sakich, left, and Jim Van Hout wait for Flight 616 to arrive from Florida on Nov. 13, 1991, with Mayor Richard M. Daley aboard. Daley voiced concern about job losses.
Midway Airlines employee Chris Sakich, left, and Jim Van Hout wait for Flight 616 to arrive from Florida on Nov. 13, 1991, with Mayor Richard M. Daley aboard. Daley voiced concern about job losses.
Midway Airlines employees, some crying, pick up their personal belongings on Nov. 14, 1991, after the airline shut down.
Midway Airlines employees, some crying, pick up their personal belongings on Nov. 14, 1991, after the airline shut down.
Midway Airlines sits closed after the deal with Northwest Airlines fell through on Nov. 14, 1991, at Midway Airport in Chicago.
Midway Airlines sits closed after the deal with Northwest Airlines fell through on Nov. 14, 1991, at Midway Airport in Chicago.
Former employees of Midway Airlines line up to attend a job fair sponsored by United Airlines at Midway's administrative offices at 5959 S. Cicero Ave. in Chicago on Nov. 21, 1991.
Former employees of Midway Airlines line up to attend a job fair sponsored by United Airlines at Midway’s administrative offices at 5959 S. Cicero Ave. in Chicago on Nov. 21, 1991.
The closing of Midway Airlines at Midway Airport leaves the halls, baggage claim, streets and parking lots empty at the airport on Nov. 20, 1991.
The closing of Midway Airlines at Midway Airport leaves the halls, baggage claim, streets and parking lots empty at the airport on Nov. 20, 1991.

More in Transportation