United Airlines is one of the country’s three big surviving legacy airlines, but as we’ve documented here repeatedly, the airline’s service level to Charlotte is rather weak. In particular, a high percentage of the airline’s flights to Charlotte in recent years have been on 50-seat regional jets, which are uncomfortable, lack a first-class section, so the airline can’t reward its frequent fliers with an upgrade when flying to from CLT, and have high cost per available seat mile.
That’s all going to change in the next two months though, with United upgrading all of its weekday flights on 50-seaters (Embrear 145s (ERJ)) from Charlotte to large regional jets — Embrear 175s (E75), Embrear E170s (E70), or Bombardier CRJ700s (CR7)— with a first class sections. The airline’s seat’s available from CLT are increasing by 44 percent from their mid-August level — our baseline date for 2015 — by the end of October. Highlights:
August 13:
Chicago: 1 737-700, 1 E75, 1 CR7, 3 ERJ
Houston: 4 ERJ
Newark: 1 E70, 6 ERJ
Washington Dulles: 1 E75, 2 CR7, 1 ERJ
Total: 21 flights, 1 mainline, 6 large regional jet with first class, 14 5-seat regional jet, 1,238 total seats
October 1:
Chicago: 2 737-700, 3 CR7
Denver: 2 E75
Houston: 2 E75, 2 E70, 2 ERJ
Newark: 1 E75, 1 E70, 5 ERJ
Washington Dulles: 1 E75, 3 CR7
Total: 23 flights, 2 mainline, 14 large regional jets with first class, 7 50-seat regional gets, 1,578 seats
October 29:
Chicago: 2 A319, 2 E75, 1 CR7
Denver: 2 E75
Houston: 2 E75, 3 E70
Newark: 1 E75, 6 E70
Washington Dulles: 2 E75, 2 CR7
Total: 23 flights, 2 mainline, 21 large regional jets with first class, 1,782 seats
