United Express Increases Peoria to Chicago-O'Hare Service!


United Express is increasing service to Peoria again.

The carrier has returned to five daily roundtrips between Peoria International Airport and Chicago-O'Hare International Airport, probably this month. But on March 30-31, service increases to SEVEN daily roundtrips. The schedule for that date is as follows-

From Chicago-O'Hare
10:02 CRJ200
12:36 CRJ200
14:07 CRJ550
16:44 CRJ200
18:53 CRJ200
21:08 CRJ550
22:27 CRJ200

To Chicago-O'Hare
06:30 CRJ550
08:15 CRJ200
10:40 CRJ200
13:20 CRJ200
14:50 CRJ550
17:25 CRJ200
19:28 CRJ200

Those flights with CRJ550 equipment, offering 50 seats and three-class service, are operated by GoJet Airlines. Those with CRJ200 equipment, offering 50 seats and single-class service, are operated by SkyWest Airlines. 

But the frequency buildup is only temporary, as on May 21-22, service is cut back to five daily roundtrips, but with deployment of 76-seat Embraer 175 equipment on at least two, perhaps three roundtrips. I would include a schedule for that but equipment and flight times do not match. Either the posted schedules are in error, or they are tentative.

Regardless, it appears United Express is committed to the Peoria market even though they are adding Champaign-Urbana and Bloomington-Normal April 30 and May 7, respectively, each with four daily roundtrips to Chicago-O'Hare. 

This buildup, spurred by renewed vigorous competition between American Airlines and United Airlines for dominance at Chicago, has the potential to cannabilize Peoria's passengers. But it appears the airline will remain competitive in Peoria, believing it can support increased service on its own. 

- David P. Jordan

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