United Picks Up San Francisco to Missoula Route

United Express/SkyWest will again operate seasonal flights between San Francisco and Missoula, Montana. The flights operate once-daily between June 9 and November 3, 2010, utilizing a 50-seat Canadair regional jet.

United/SkyWest To Drop San Jose - Santa Barbara Route

KEYT is reporting United Express - SkyWest Airlines has decided to end flights between San Jose and Santa Barbara effective June 8, 2010. The airline operates up to five daily flights between the two cities, using 30-seat EMB-120 aircraft. In the report, the airline said flight loads were too low to continue offering service. Customers can continue fly SkyWest into Santa Barbara via SFO and LAX airports.

A Collection of United Airlines Aircraft Images

Here are a few of my favorite United Airlines/United Express aircraft images I've taken over the years. Although far from an exhaustive gallery of favorites, these six proudly represent the diversity of the United fleet and relatively recent changes to aircraft livery. Enjoy. =)

United Express To Start San Francisco to Pasco/Tri-Cities Service

Beginning June 4th, United Airlines/United Express will launch nonstop flights between San Francisco and Pasco/Tri-Cities Airport (PSC). Two daily flights will be offered on the route, utilizing a 50-seat, CRJ-200 jet aircraft, as shown below. 

Pasco is a small city located in Southeast Washington. The Tri-Cities region, which includes Pasco, Kennewick and Richland has a combined population of about 250,000 people. 

Schedule:

SFO-PSC  dp 08:54  ar 10:54

                  dp 19:00 ar 21:00

PSC-SFO  dp 06:31 ar 08:27

                  dp 16:35 ar 18:31

United Express To Launch San Francisco - North Bend Service

United Express/Skywest Airlines will launch service between San Francisco (SFO) and North Bend (OTH) later on Monday, July 7th. The twice-daily flight will be operated by a 30-passenger Embraer-manufactured EMB 120 Brasilia aircraft. Travel time between SFO and North Bend, located in Southwest Oregon is just under two hours.

SkyWest Launches 2 New Routes From SFO Today

Enjoy the great outdoors with United Express/Skywest Airlines' new seasonal service from San Francisco to both Kalispell and Missoula, Montana. Flights begin today, and will be operated by Bombadier Regional jets, such as the one pictured to the left.

Visit http://www.ual.com/ for more information.

Horizon Airlines To Debut San Jose to Sacramento flights

Horizon Airlines, a subsidiary of the Alaska Air Group announced it will launch once daily service between San Jose, CA and Sacramento beginning August 25th. No other airline currently offers this routing. United Airlines/Skywest comes closest, with several daily flights between Sacramento and its San Francisco hub.

The new Horizon flight will be operated by a 76-seater Q-400 turboprop plane. Tickets can be purchased beginning June 15th.

What is the Essential Air Service Program?

By Mike Grasso

Back in the late 1970's with airline deregulation, air carriers had much freedom to choose which domestic routes they wanted to fly. Favoring larger markets which offered high passenger loads and yielding higher returns often meant bypassing services to smaller communities.

So the government stepped in and introduced the Essential Air Service Program (EAS). Rural cities distanced more than 70 miles from a medium or large commercial airport qualified for a partial federal subsidy. Greater than 210 miles - no cap on the governments subsidy. So while United Airlines/Skywest Airlines may not want to provide air service from San Francisco to Crescent City, on the far north coast, a nice kickback from the government helps them reconsider.

Approximately 140 cities across the United States are part of the EAS program, mostly throughout the Midwest and Alaska. In California, SkyWest Airlines to Crescent City, and Air Midwest, serving Visalia and Merced, receive federal funds of up to $1 Million each year.

Opponents of the program say having service to rural communities promotes business opportunities, and better connects people to the rest of the country.

Critics say the essential air program is actually unessential, citing many flights actually depart with only a couple passengers, an unnecessary government expenditure. They also argue that since the program was developed nearly 30 years ago, regional airports have absorbed much of the demand coming from rural areas, making this program unnecessary.

Related:

AirMidwest to suspend operations by June 30th.

New Service: San Francisco to Klamath Falls & North Bend, Oregon

United Express & SkyWest Airlines have announced the introduction of daily flights from San Francisco to both Klamath Falls (LMT) and North Bend (OTH) beginning July 7, 2008. The twice daily flights to each destination will be operated by the 30-passenger Embraer-manufactured EMB 120 Brasilia aircraft.

SkyWest airlines serves 155 cities in 43 states, including a strong presence in smaller regional airports throughout California.

Tickets are currently available at http://www.united.com/

San Francisco to Victoria, BC - nonstop, begins in June

United Airlines announced new non-stop service from San Francisco to Victoria, British Columbia beginning June 5th. Operated by a 66-seat CRJ-700 aircraft, the route will host a single daily flight. Customers flying this route will benefit from United's explus service featuring economy-plus seating throughout the cabin and premium onboard amenities. No other airline offers non-stop service from the Bay to Victoria.

See Also: WikiTravel - Victoria, BC

United to expand San Francisco to Eugene Service

On March 30th, United Airlines will resume regular mainline operations from San Francisco to Eugene, Oregon. In response to a downturn in the economy, United thinned capacity to Eugene in 2003 by utilizing smaller 50-66 seater (United Express/SkyWest) regional jets. Since then, demand has increased and flight loads averaged greater than 90%. The aircraft being put into service (Boeing 737's) will accommodate 110 passengers each.

NTSB Investigating Runway Incursion at San Francisco International
National Safety Transportation Board preliminary report regarding the near-miss airplane accident at SFO 2 weeks ago between Republic Airlines & United/SkyWest.