Air Wisconsin is to furlough up to 252 employees starting October 28, 2025, following a non-binding letter of intent from Premier Shuttle Holdings for acquiring assets and Part 121 certification.
The furloughs, affecting 102 management and 150 represented employees at Milwaukee General Mitchell and Appleton County Regional Airports, comply with federal and state WARN requirements.
Premier, linked to Slate Aviation, aims to expand into CRJ700 and E175 aircraft, while Harbor Diversified retains unselected assets for a new aircraft and parts sales business.
Air Wisconsin terminated its American Airlines capacity purchase agreement in 2024 and withdrew from Essential Air Service contracts, operating 61 CRJ200s.
The acquisition supports Premier’s all-business-class leisure routes in the eastern US, with Air Wisconsin employees potentially transitioning to the new sales and leasing operation.
Air Wisconsin shared “Premier will need flexibility in shaping its workforce to align with its business plan, impacting positions at Milwaukee and Appleton airports.”
