US Airways Express to Bring Jet to Erie
US Airways Express will bring its popular 50-seat regional jet service to Erie, Pa., and will operate one daily nonstop roundtrip flight to US Airways` Pittsburgh hub beginning Jan. 5, 2003.
The new service, which will be operated by US Airways Express carrier Mesa Airlines using Embraer-145 aircraft, will depart Erie at 11:30 a.m., and will arrive in Pittsburgh at 12:20 p.m. From Pittsburgh, the flight will depart at 9:25 a.m., and will arrive in Erie at 10:15 a.m.
“This popular aircraft will bring business and leisure travelers alike added levels of comfort and will represent the first of other regional jet flights that will be added in time between Erie and Pittsburgh,” said B. Ben Baldanza, US Airways senior vice president of marketing and planning. “Senator Arlen Specter and Pennsylvania Congressman Phil English have worked tirelessly to have regional jet service restored to Erie, and together we are pleased to be able to complement our schedule with these modern aircraft.”
“I consider this a great breakthrough and follow through on the commitments that US Airways has made to me and the Erie community. This is a great boost for the Erie airport and all of the customers in our region,” said English.
US Airways Express currently operates nine nonstop roundtrip flights each business day between Erie and Pittsburgh with 37-seat and 50-seat Dash-8 turboprop aircraft, flown by both Allegheny and Piedmont Airlines. In January, with the addition of the regional jet flights, US Airways Express will continue to operate nine daily nonstop flights on this route.
ADVERTISEMENT
Passengers flying on US Airways Express` Embraer-145 Regional Jet flights travel comfortably in a quiet, roomy cabin equipped with leather seats where every seat is on either an aisle or a window. The Embraer-145`s offer stand-up headroom, reclining seatbacks, large overhead storage bins, and a restroom. Flight attendant service is provided on each aircraft.
These regional jets have a cruising speed of over 500 miles per hour with a range of more than 1,000 miles, and can cruise at altitudes above 35,000 feet, providing US Airways Express long range regional jet capability.
Mesa Airlines currently operates as a US Airways Express carrier, using a combination of regional jets and turboprop aircraft in 38 US Airways markets. Mesa Airlines, along with other subsidiaries of parent company Mesa Air Group, operate 32 regional jets and 41 turbo-prop aircraft as US Airways Express.
US Airways Express` three wholly-owned subsidiaries and seven affiliate carriers currently operate more than 2,000 flights daily, serving 161 destinations in the U.S., Canada and the Caribbean.
Reporters needing additional information should contact US Airways Corporate Communications at (703) 872-5100.
——-