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By TOM DAYKIN

Financially troubled Midwest Airlines released its fall schedule with service cuts, particularly to leisure destinations, that are the steepest in its 24-year history.

The changes take effect Sept. 8. Some customers who have purchased tickets for flights that are being canceled may be rescheduled on other flights; others will be entitled to refunds.

The new schedule reflects big cuts in service to Florida, the West Coast and other areas while retaining flights to what the airline considers core destinations for business travelers. It's a return to the strategy that the company was built upon, executives say.

The changes will roll back Midwest's Milwaukee-based service to levels that existed at the beginning of this decade. In 2000, before a recession and terrorist attacks caused a steep decline in air travel, Midwest offered nonstop flights from Milwaukee's Mitchell International Airport to 29 cities.

Come fall, there will be 90 daily departures to 28 cities, down from 118 departures to 38 cities, from Mitchell, where Midwest Airlines and its Midwest Connect regional affiliate are the dominant carriers.

Systemwide, the new schedule will leave Midwest Airlines/Midwest Connect with 102 daily departures. The air group now offers 138 daily departures.