United to stop flying to Erie and Springfield, Ill.

United Airlines on June 2 will end service to Erie, Pa. and Springfield, Ill., according to local Erie media. 

The carrier currently flies to those Midwest cities from Chicago O’Hare on United Express regional aircraft. 

The cessation of United Express flights will leave Erie with just one airline and route: American’s twice-daily flights to Charlotte, N.C.   

United’s Springfield exit will come as American shifts its lone connection to Springfield from Dallas/Fort Worth to Chicago O’Hare. Allegiant also flies from Springfield: daily service to Punta Gorda, Fla., and seasonal weekly or twice-weekly service to Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport.

United’s service cuts are part of an ongoing reduction in regional flying. Cuts have been especially deep on routes serviced by smaller 50-seat aircraft that United uses in Erie and Springfield.

In testimony on March 23 before the Senate commerce committee, Trent Moyers, head of Pangborn Memorial Airport in Wenatchee, Wash., lamented that since the pandemic, 76% of U.S. airports have lost service, with 53, including Wenatchee, having lost more than half of their flights. Fourteen airports, said Moyers, have lost all commercial service.

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