US Airways Express will begin regional jet service in Erie, Pa. on Sunday, operating one daily nonstop roundtrip flight to US Airways’ Pittsburgh hub.

The new service, which will be operated by US Airways Express carrier Mesa Airlines using 50-seat 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 added comfort to business and leisure travelers alike and marks the beginning of further regional jet service to be added in time between Erie and Pittsburgh,” said B. Ben Baldanza, US Airways senior vice president of marketing and planning.

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. With the addition of the regional jet flights, US Airways Express will continue to operate nine daily nonstop flights on this route.

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, operates 32 regional jets and 29 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.

For additional information on fares and schedules, visit US Airways online at usairways.com, or call US Airways at 1-800-428-4322.

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