Lost United Express flights not over RDM issues
United Airlines has announced it is dropping United Express service from Portland to Redmond, Eugene and Seattle on Sept. 1, with operator SkyWest Airlines citing “underperformance of those markets.”
However, officials in Central Oregon say that is not exactly the case.
“It had nothing to do with our market — it was an aircraft issue,” Alana Hughson, president/CEO of the Central Oregon Visitors Association, said Wednesday.
SkyWest, the United Express operator, flies 30-passenger Embraer 120 turbprops four times a day between PDX and Sea-Tac and three times daily between Portland and Redmond, as well as on the Portland-Eugene route.
There are no plans as of now to replace the flights as SkyWest moves to 50-seat Bombardier CRJ-200 regional jets, which carry more passengers but cost more to operate.
“It’s not an easy answer to say, ‘We’re going to pull this plane and replace it with this one,'” Redmond Airport Interim Director Bob Noble said.
SkyWest spokeswoman Marissa Snow told The Oregonian that United will contact passengers scheduled to fly those routes after Sept. 1 to arrange alternate flights.
Losing tourism and business is a concern for Central Oregon officials.
Alaska Airlines operates four daily flights between Portland and Redmond, as well as Eugene, and 22 flights a day between PDX and Seattle.
SkyWest and United have been buying Embraer’s later-generation aircraft, the E175.
United is still flying from Redmond to Denver and San Francisco.
Roberts Field officials said Monday the lost flights are a blow, but have optimism other airlines will step up as tourism and the economy rebound.
“We do hope the other carriers will take a look at this deficiency and possibly pick that up or add larger aircraft to help accommodate that and continue a good service for Central Oregon,” said Nicole Jurgensen, security coordinator at Redmond Municipal Airport.
