Latest news with #UnitedExpress
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Johnstown airport backing SkyWest's return, even with strong interest in contract
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – A line of carriers, including air giant American Airlines, made bids for the John Murtha Johnstown-Cambria County Airport's next Essential Air Service contract. But airport officials want to stick with the United Express carrier that lifted their service to new heights over the past three years. In a vote Tuesday, the airport authority voted to send the U.S. Department of Transportation its formal recommendation that SkyWest's United service to Chicago O'Hare International and Washington-Dulles continue through fall 2029. 'No-brainer' Just five years ago, SkyWest was the only airline bidding to provide jet service from Johnstown – and for more than 20 years prior, the airport only attracted bidders with eight-seat propeller aircraft. This spring's round of bids attracted offers from American, Air Wisconsin – which has historically flown under the American Eagle moniker – and SkyWest, which provides regional service under the United Express banner. But even an offer from Texas- based American wasn't able to sway the authority from SkyWest. American and Air Wisconsin were also proposing flights on 50-seat jets and the same number of weekly EAS flights. 'Years ago, we would have taken any one of those jet proposals,' member Mike Parrish told airport authority colleagues, reflecting on how far the airport's success has come. 'But SkyWest remains the hands-down No. 1 choice,' Parrish said. 'It was a no-brainer.' Not only are SkyWest's Chicago and Washington destinations a major draw but the carrier also provides two extra weekly flights to Johnstown without subsidy. The United Express carrier's reliability and reputation has won over passengers year after year, with its 2025 totals through four months setting the airport up for a third straight year of record-breaking numbers. From Jan. 1 through April 30, a total of 11,413 people flew to or from Johnstown, figures show. 'SkyWest has been an amazing partner,' authority Chairman Tim McIlwain said, crediting the company's consistency and ongoing willingness to work with the authority. 'The community has embraced their jet service.' In Johnstown, SkyWest has also worked with the authority to modify flight schedules to cut down on O'Hare-originated delays. They've also been a partner in ongoing aviation-related economic development projects – including efforts that could bring additional SkyWest aircraft to Johnstown for overnight repairs, the authority wrote in its letter to the U.S. DOT. SkyWest's average subsidy request averages $5.9 million over the four-year span, making it the lowest qualified bidder, the board wrote. That's an important factor at a time the Trump administration has proposed reducing the Essential Air Service budget for 2026. Future funding Airport Manager Cory Cree said airport officials are confident it won't prevent them from receiving a new EAS contract for November. Trump's administration, which earlier this year expressed support for the EAS program, proposed a 50% cut to the $590 million annual U.S. program in early May. The program is funded by 'overflight fees' collected from international carriers who use U.S. air space but don't land locally. Airline officials across the U.S. are monitoring whether any EAS funds are cut – and how the program could be amended in the future. The Essential Air Service program, founded to provide air service to rural areas, has been a target of Project 2025, but it's historically had bipartisan support among the Congress and Senate in Washington, D.C. Among the more than 170 Essential Air Service communities across the U.S., 86% are in rural districts served by Republicans as of 2024. The Trump budget itself is still in the early committee phase, navigating scrutiny from members of both parties. Cree said Tuesday that Johnstown airport staff have spoken with all three of the region's federal lawmakers – U.S. Rep, John Joyce and U.S. Sens. Dave McCormick and John Fetterman – about their ongoing efforts to expand airport development and air travel in Cambria County. All three, he said, expressed support for their development efforts and 'understand the importance of EAS to our community.' Joyce, R-Blair, has two Essential Air Service airports in his district and has backed airport efforts in recent years. Varied proposals Skywest was one of several carriers who pitched continuing flights to Washington-Dulles or Chicago, proposals show. Air Wisconsin submitted offers for either 12 Chicago O'Hare International flights per week or a combination of O'Hare and Philadelphia International – at a nearly identical average subsidy request. Airport officials cited concerns about the carrier's limited baggage connection agreements, noting that travelers flying a combination of U.S. airlines would have to recheck bags before boarding Delta or United flights. That's not the case with SkyWest, which has agreements with United, Delta, American and Alaska Airlines. American Airlines offered service to Philadelphia at an average annual contract price of $6.1 million. It also proposed flights to a combination of Philadelphia and Charlotte Douglas International for a $7.2 million average annual subsidy – a cost $1.3 million a year above SkyWest's proposal, the board wrote in its recommendation letter. A onetime Johnstown carrier, Southern Airways, also submitted a proposal to offer flights to Pittsburgh International and Dulles airports. Commuter airline Southern Airways Express offers flights on eight-seat propeller aircraft. The airline served Johnstown nearly a decade ago before the airport chose a different carrier, citing poor reliability and low passenger numbers. In its letter, authority officials said they viewed the Southern proposal as 'unacceptable' because it falls short of the EAS program's demonstrated reliability requirement.
The Independent
09-05-2025
- Business
- The Independent
United Airlines announces debut for ‘game-changing' Starlink Wi-Fi
Starlink-powered Wi-Fi will debut with United Airlines next Thursday, May 15, the carrier has announced. Elon Musk's system is being rolled out across United's regional United Express jets before being fitted to all the carrier's long-haul planes. Other airlines installing Starlink systems include Qatar Airways, Air France, Hawaiian Airlines and airBaltic. United claimed that Starlink will unlock "an incredible onboard experience for customers". Those logging on will experience Wi-Fi speeds of up to 250 megabits per second (Mbps), meaning that movies and TV shows can be screened on multiple devices. United installs Elon Musk's Starlink on first regional aircraft Those logging on to United's Starlink will experience Wi-Fi speeds of up to 250 megabits per second (Mbps) (United Airlines) What's more, United explained, weather on the ground doesn't hinder connectivity, thanks to "laser link" technology that enables the satellites in the system to communicate with each other and the ground in all conditions. Currently, even regular Wi-Fi is not universally available on flights - and connectivity can disappear altogether when planes cross remote regions and oceans. It can be pricey, too. For example, American charges up to $60 for monthly subscriptions and from $10 per flight. United said that it expects to have its entire two-cabin regional fleet outfitted with Starlink by the end of the year. It said: "This gate-to-gate connectivity will enable experiences in the sky at scale that no other major U.S. airline provides, on seatback screens and personal devices simultaneously." United's VP of Digital Technology, Grant Milstead, said: "Our ability to roll-out this innovative service with unprecedented speed and scale is a direct result of the advanced equipment, technology and team of experts at United. "Starlink has been a terrific partner — our combined spirit of innovation and collaboration will enable us to hit our goal of more than 300 regional aircraft installations before the end of this year." Starlink access will be free for all MileagePlus customers and include "game-changing" inflight entertainment experiences like streaming services, shopping, gaming "and more". If you don't sign up for a MileagePlus account, then you won't have access to any Wi-Fi, as during the Starlink install, the old Wi-Fi system is taken out.
USA Today
02-04-2025
- Business
- USA Today
United Airlines and Starlink to bring free high-speed internet for MileagePlus members
United Airlines and Starlink to bring free high-speed internet for MileagePlus members Show Caption Hide Caption SpaceX launches 23 Starlink satellites successfully SpaceX successfully completed yet another Falcon 9 launch in March. The launch sent 23 Starlink satellites, 13 with Direct to Cell capabilities, to low-Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. Fox - 35 Orlando United Airlines UAL.O said on Monday that the Federal Aviation Administration has approved its first Starlink-equipped aircraft type and that the first commercial flight is planned for May. United said the FAA issued a Supplemental Type Certificate for the Embraer 175 and the airline expects the first commercial flight to be onboard a United Express Embraer 175. The Chicago-based airline plans to add the high-speed Wi-Fi technology to around 40 regional jets per month and expects all 300 planes of the type will be completed by the end of the year. United said it will work with Elon Musk's Starlink to secure FAA approval to install Starlink on more than 16 United aircraft models. The FAA did not immediately respond to requests for comment. In case you missed it: Apple iPhone to support Starlink direct-to-cell coverage in US Starlink Wi-Fi service will eventually be available on all its flights, the airline said earlier this year, and will be free for MileagePlus members. Last year, United signed a deal with Starlink to provide in-flight internet services across its entire fleet of over 1,000 aircraft over the next several years. Starlink, a unit of SpaceX, has deals with multiple airlines to provide in-flight internet services as it seeks to expand its reach beyond consumers and households in rural areas around the world with little to no internet access. The satellite-based internet services provider previously signed deals with Hawaiian Airlines and regional carrier JSX. In Canada, which is embroiled in a tariff dispute with the United States, WestJet Airlines has faced complaints from some passengers on social media sites over a deal announced last summer to provide Wi-Fi access onboard through Musk's Starlink. Musk has faced opposition directed at Starlink and to a greater extent at Tesla TSLA.O, due to his role overseeing massive layoffs and firings in moves to cut federal spending in the United States as an adviser to President Donald Trump. Canada's second largest carrier said in a recent statement that it began activating its Wi-Fi service in March with plans to complete all installations and upgrades on its narrow-body fleet by the end of 2025, and on its wide-body jets by the end of 2026. Reporting by David Shepardson. Additional reporting by Allison Lampert; Editing by Franklin Paul and Bill Berkrot
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
United receives FAA approval for first Starlink-equipped airplanes
(Reuters) - United Airlines said Monday the Federal Aviation Administration has approved its first Starlink-equipped aircraft type and that the first commercial flight is planned for May. United said the FAA issued a Supplemental Type Certificate for the Embraer 175 and the airline expects the first commercial flight to be onboard a United Express Embraer 175. The Chicago-based airline plans to add the technology to around 40 regional jets per month and expects all 300 planes of the type will be completed by the end of the year. United will work with Starlink to secure FAA approval to install Starlink on more than 16 United aircraft models.
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Yahoo
Which airlines had the most delays at Austin's airport in 2024?
This story is part of the KXAN Data Hub, where numbers help tell the whole created several data-driven stories and databases on topics including weather and climate, politics, education, sports and growth in Texas. Each story in the KXAN Data Hub is updated as new data becomes available. AUSTIN (KXAN) — Flight delays at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport last year lasted for more than an hour, on average. The U.S. Department of Transportation's Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) publishes delay and cancellation data for airports across the country. BTS uses arriving domestic flights when reporting delayed and canceled flights. A flight is considered delayed if it arrives at the gate at least 15 minutes after the scheduled arrival time. AUS Data Hub: Passenger totals, busiest months and new flights coming in 2025 Of the more than 86,000 flights to AUS in 2024, 76% arrived on time, while 22.8% were delayed. A further 1% of flights were canceled, while 0.2% of flights scheduled to land in Austin were diverted to a different airport. The figures are mostly flat compared to 2023. In that year, 76.7% of flights were on time, 21.9% were delayed and 1.2% were canceled. Since 2010, the year with the most on-time flights was 2020 — when 83.5% of flights were considered on time. It's important to note, though, that there were fewer flights that year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the same year, 6.8% of scheduled flights were canceled, more than any other year. In total, 85.8% of flights in October were on-time, more than any other month in 2024. That compares to just 64.2% in both May and July. May had the highest share of delayed flights — 33.7% in total. January saw the most cancellations of any month — 220 in total, or 3.2%. About 2% of flights were canceled in July, while 1.6% were canceled in May. In February, just 0.3% of flights were canceled — the fewest of any month. When looking at individual airlines, JetBlue Airways saw the most delays at AUS last year. In total, 31% of all arriving JetBlue flights were delayed by at least 15 minutes. About 67.6% of the airline's flights to Austin arrived on time, an improvement over 64.3% in 2023 and 58.6% in 2022. What's the latest on Austin's airport construction projects? Republic Airways, which operates flights as American Eagle, Delta Connection and United Express, had the best on-time performance at AUS, with 84.3% of flights arriving on time in 2024. Hawaiian Airlines came second, with 81.3% of flights being on time. PSA Airlines had the lowest on-time performance, with 64% of flights considered on time. PSA also had the highest diversion rate, with 8% of its flights to Austin in 2024 diverted to another airport. The airline, which is owned by American Airlines and operates as American Eagle, only had 25 flights scheduled to land in Austin last year. Mesa Airlines, which operates as United Express flights, was the top offender in Austin for most canceled flights, with 2.6% of all arrivals canceled last year. Alaska Airlines, Allegiant Air and Spirit Airlines all also canceled more than 2% of flights to Austin in 2024. SkyWest Airlines, which contracts with Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines, saw the longest delays at AUS last year. The average delay for arriving flights was 84.8 minutes. Allegiant and American also saw average delays of about an hour and 20 minutes. Republic Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines and PSA Airlines all saw the shortest delays, each between 30 and 40 minutes on average. In total, 19,633 flights to Austin were delayed in 2024, with the average delay lasting for 62.5 minutes. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
