UAL Expands Ted Flights to Midway Airport

CHICAGO (AP) -- United Airlines' low-fare unit Ted began flights Sunday from Chicago's Midway Airport.

The airline now has three nonstop flights a day from Midway to Denver, Ted's base, and two daily nonstops to Washington Dulles.

United officials said the new service will complement the airline's existing service from O'Hare International Airport - United's largest hub.

Midway, which is far smaller but lies closer to downtown Chicago than O'Hare, has grown in recent years with the expansion of low-cost king Southwest Airlines Inc., ATA Airlines and AirTran.

''With today's launch, 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 regional United Express unit.

United parent UAL Corp. launched Ted in February 2004 to compete with low-fare carriers such as Denver-based Frontier Airlines. Ted charges lower fares on certain routes where it competes directly with other discount carriers, particularly to leisure-travel markets in the Sun Belt.

United last month said it would expand its Ted fleet of Airbus 320 aircraft by 20 percent this year after deeming its first year of operation a success. Ted now operates 214 flights a day from its hubs in Denver, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Dulles and O'Hare.