Larger jets will provide more seats for Erie-Chicago travelers this spring
United Airlines will begin flying larger regional jets to and from Erie beginning March 4.
The CRJ-700 planes accommodate as many as 70 passengers and offer three types of fares and service, United First Class, United Economy Plus and United Economy. The Economy Plus service provides seats with more legroom and seats near the front of the cabin, according to the United website.
The larger planes will make the daily morning flight to Chicago's O'Hare International Airport and evening flight from Chicago to Erie.
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Smaller CRJ-200 jets will continue to make the daily morning flight to Erie and afternoon flight to Chicago. The planes seat as many as 50 passengers and offer economy fares and service.
"Erie Airport is excited about the new travel option offered by United Airlines to Chicago which allows the regional community to connect to hundreds of domestic and international destinations from Chicago," airport Executive Director Derek Martin said in a statement.
Airport staff has been working through the pandemic to position Erie International Airport in a competitive air-service market, said Dan Giannelli, president of the Erie Regional Airport Authority Board of Directors. The authority owns and operates the airport.
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"They have been able to reduce airline costs while upgrading our facilities so when airlines have an opportunity to expand service, ERI is high on their list," Giannelli said.
Recent airport improvements include airfield, terminal and parking lot upgrades. More than $6 million in federal funding will pay the cost to realign a portion of the airport's main taxiway this year.
The CRJ planes serving Erie were manufactured by Bombardier of Canada. The company was bought by Mitsubishi in 2020.
Contact Valerie Myers at vmyers@timesnews.com.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Larger jets will provide more Erie-Chicago seats beginning in March
