One simple but unavoidable reason for Midwest to have to cut out 11 of the 45 cities to which it currently flies:

"The issue is fuel, fuel, fuel," explains Midwest Spokesman Mike Brophy.

"People might get tired of hearing it, but I'm certain they can probably feel it themselves when they go to the gas pump. For airlines, it's a staggering and rapid increase in the cost of fuel.

"I think the schedule we have posted is really reflective of the airline industry these days, in terms of really needing to cut back on fuel prices."

Read more below this series of links:

Related Coverage:
• Who Else Flies to Midwest-Cut Cities, And For How Much?
• Midwest Airlines Schedule Cuts Announced

Midwest Airlines: the 32 cities they will retain and the 11 they will cut

It's a schedule that cuts out leisure destinations like Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, San Antonio and San Diego, but keeps most of its major business traveler-oriented locales.

"I really think it kind of retains the soul of Midwest Airlines," claims Brophy.

"We've always been an airline focused on major business destinations. None of that will change. Corporate business travelers have enjoyed non-stop business service which will continue."

Brophy says as people try to save money, they cut back on things like long-distance travel in order to get by.

"The softening economy has had an effect on leisure travel. As people cut back on their discretionary spending, those, unfortunately, are the markets that are the first to go.

"With us, unfortunately, some of those markets will not be served by us, or will be served on a seasonal basis going forward."