United Express Halting Some San Antonio Flights

United Express is pulling back from the San Antonio expansion it began this year, ending nonstop flights to four more cities.

St. Louis-based Trans State Airlines, which operates from San Antonio as United Express, cited a lack of passengers, a pilot shortage and high fuel costs as reasons for ending the flights, said Barbara Prossen, assistant to the San Antonio aviation director.

Nonstop flights to Tulsa, Okla., Oklahoma City and Kansas City ended earlier this summer, Prossen said. The nonstops to Albuquerque, N.M.; Colorado Springs, Colo.; New Orleans; and Omaha, Neb., will end Sept. 20.

The new service -- which began in February and March -- added 11 daily nonstop flights to the seven destinations.

Chicago-based United Airlines is maintaining service from San Antonio to its five hub cities -- Chicago O'Hare, Denver, San Francisco, Washington Dulles and Los Angeles.

United emerged from bankruptcy court protection Feb. 1 after an industry-record 38-month bankruptcy.

The additional San Antonio service closely followed the airline's new start and made United the No. 2 airline from the Alamo City in terms of nonstop destinations.

The discontinued flights were flown with 50-seat regional jets owned by Trans State Airlines, but passengers booked seats under United Airlines' United Express brand.

Two others carriers -- Mesa and SkyWest -- will continue operating United Express flights from San Antonio.

"The convenience of nonstop doesn't always work," Prossen said, citing competition and frequent-flier programs used by competitors such as Southwest and American.

Those airlines also serve the same cities as Trans State from San Antonio, although not with nonstop flights.

United Airlines last year added twice-daily nonstop flights between San Antonio and Washington, Los Angeles and San Francisco, using 70-seat regional jets. Those flights are doing well and will continue, Prossen said.

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