United Airlines on June 2 will end service to Erie, Pa. and Springfield, Ill., according to local Erie media.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The carrier currently flies to those Midwest cities from Chicago O’Hare on United Express regional aircraft.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The cessation of United Express flights will leave Erie with just one airline and route: American’s twice-daily flights to Charlotte, N.C.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n