United Airlines said it will cut domestic service this year.
Specifically, the airline will reduce its “mainline domestic flight capacity” by about 2 percent from previously planned levels.
United last month warned that it might lower domestic capacity because of weak U.S. revenues, pointing to Denver as a key area where its revenues have suffered.
Low-cost carriers Southwest Airlines and Frontier Airlines have stepped up their competition in Denver. United’s chief revenue officer John Tague said last month: “Clearly, we’re under pressure in Denver, and we expect that to continue.”
United, the largest carrier at Denver International Airport, said the reduction will allow it to meet increasing demand for international flights. The airline will increase international flight capacity by 0.5 percent, adding Los Angeles-Hong Kong nonstops and Washington, D.C.-Rio De Janeiro flights this fall.
The domestic-capacity reduction also will allow United to improve revenues, the company said.
United’s domestic capacity is expected to be 2 to 3 percent lower this year, compared with 2006. But United plans to increase flight capacity on its United Express regional operation this year. In the past, it has shifted flights to regional jets as it cut back on capacity, particularly in Denver.
Meanwhile, Frontier has received approval to fly to Costa Rica from the U.S. Department of Transportation.
The Denver-based carrier had asked for permission to fly between points in the United States and various points in Costa Rica “and beyond,” with plans to use its 132-seat Airbus A319 airplanes.
No airline currently flies nonstop between Denver International Airport and Costa Rica, where the primary airport is San Jose International.
Staff writer Kelly Yamanouchi can be reached at 303-954-1488 or kyamanouchi@denverpost.com.
