Rottweiller
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United's service push lands praise, flights
[published on Tue, Apr 5, 2005]
The ASSOCIATED PRESS
ELK GROVE TOWNSHIP – United Airlines might be mired in bankruptcy, but the top Chicago carrier apparently is pushing service to new heights.
The world's No. 2 airline, owned by UAL Corp., has won accolades in an annual study of airline quality. It was the top nondiscount carrier, coming in fourth in an annual study by two researchers at the University of Nebraska and Wichita State University.
Meanwhile, United, the top carrier at O'Hare International Airport, is spreading its wings through its lowfare unit, Ted. Ted began service at Midway International Airport on Chicago's South Side over the weekend, offering flights to Denver and Washington, D.C.
United also has revamped its commuter operation, bringing in two regional airlines to take over some routes flown by Air Wisconsin Airlines Corp. to cut costs.
For travelers, the changes mean more destinations – Ted's launch is United's only presence at Midway – and the likelihood of a more enjoyable flight.
For United, which has been in bankruptcy with its parent company since December 2002, the moves could put more people on planes and cost the company less to do so.
United officials said Ted's new service at Midway, which began Sunday, will complement the airline's existing service at O'Hare, its largest hub.
"United now offers cross-town coverage from our hometown of Chicago to points all around the world," said Sean Donohue, United's vice president for Ted and its United Express commuter unit.
United launched Ted in February 2004 to compete with lowfare carriers.
Ted will compete against the likes of Southwest Airlines Co. at Midway. Dallas-based Southwest is the largest carrier at the airport.
And Chicago is not the only arena in which United and Southwest are doing battle.
United vaulted four spots in the Airline Quality Rating study by the University of Nebraska at Omaha Aviation Institute and W. Frank Barton School of Business at Wichita State University
It landed behind Southwest in the study that evaluates airline quality based on Transportation Department statistics.
The study also indicated SkyWest Inc., one of the commuter carriers United chose Monday to take over some of its regional routes, was among the worst airlines in terms of quality.
SkyWest, based in St. George, Utah, and GoJet, a unit of St. Louis-based Trans States Holdings Inc., will fly 30 jets under the United Express banner.
They will fly travelers from smaller markets to United hubs. From there, they can complete their trips by switching to larger United planes.
United officials said the carriers will start flights in August and be fully in place by the first quarter of 2006. They did not say which routes the carriers will fly.
"We offered up a very competitive cost structure," said Michael Kraupp, vice president of finance at SkyWest.
United and Appleton, Wis.-based Air Wisconsin still are in negotiations on revising their existing commuter contract, spokespeople for the two companies said.
[published on Tue, Apr 5, 2005]
The ASSOCIATED PRESS
ELK GROVE TOWNSHIP – United Airlines might be mired in bankruptcy, but the top Chicago carrier apparently is pushing service to new heights.
The world's No. 2 airline, owned by UAL Corp., has won accolades in an annual study of airline quality. It was the top nondiscount carrier, coming in fourth in an annual study by two researchers at the University of Nebraska and Wichita State University.
Meanwhile, United, the top carrier at O'Hare International Airport, is spreading its wings through its lowfare unit, Ted. Ted began service at Midway International Airport on Chicago's South Side over the weekend, offering flights to Denver and Washington, D.C.
United also has revamped its commuter operation, bringing in two regional airlines to take over some routes flown by Air Wisconsin Airlines Corp. to cut costs.
For travelers, the changes mean more destinations – Ted's launch is United's only presence at Midway – and the likelihood of a more enjoyable flight.
For United, which has been in bankruptcy with its parent company since December 2002, the moves could put more people on planes and cost the company less to do so.
United officials said Ted's new service at Midway, which began Sunday, will complement the airline's existing service at O'Hare, its largest hub.
"United now offers cross-town coverage from our hometown of Chicago to points all around the world," said Sean Donohue, United's vice president for Ted and its United Express commuter unit.
United launched Ted in February 2004 to compete with lowfare carriers.
Ted will compete against the likes of Southwest Airlines Co. at Midway. Dallas-based Southwest is the largest carrier at the airport.
And Chicago is not the only arena in which United and Southwest are doing battle.
United vaulted four spots in the Airline Quality Rating study by the University of Nebraska at Omaha Aviation Institute and W. Frank Barton School of Business at Wichita State University
It landed behind Southwest in the study that evaluates airline quality based on Transportation Department statistics.
The study also indicated SkyWest Inc., one of the commuter carriers United chose Monday to take over some of its regional routes, was among the worst airlines in terms of quality.
SkyWest, based in St. George, Utah, and GoJet, a unit of St. Louis-based Trans States Holdings Inc., will fly 30 jets under the United Express banner.
They will fly travelers from smaller markets to United hubs. From there, they can complete their trips by switching to larger United planes.
United officials said the carriers will start flights in August and be fully in place by the first quarter of 2006. They did not say which routes the carriers will fly.
"We offered up a very competitive cost structure," said Michael Kraupp, vice president of finance at SkyWest.
United and Appleton, Wis.-based Air Wisconsin still are in negotiations on revising their existing commuter contract, spokespeople for the two companies said.
