Lane County, Oregon Aug 20, 2008
United’s 737 service return to Eugene
April 2nd, 2008
Published: March 30, 2008 12:00AM
It was a case of better late than never in a couple of ways, but the return of United Airlines’ big jets to the Eugene Airport was welcome just the same.
Airport officials were on hand Saturday to welcome back, a bit late, the first United 737 since the airline canceled its mainline Eugene service in early 2003. Since then, the airport has been served by smaller Canadair jets flown by the United Express/Skywest subsidiary.
But a four-way incentive package worth $80,000 to $90,000 and growing demand brought the big jets back. Both the Eugene and Springfield chambers of commerce, the Convention & Visitors Association of Lane County Oregon and the Lane Metro Partnership kicked in to make the deal.
The planes will be used on United’s four daily flights to and from San Francisco, with departures at 6:15 a.m., 10:35 a.m., 3:22 p.m. and 7:36 p.m. San Francisco is the No. 2 destination for travellers out of Eugene.
“We’re glad to have it back,” airport manager Tim Doll said.
Happy enough to welcome the first flight with airplane-shaped cookies and punch as the tardy first arrivals from San Francisco arrived at Gate A3 Saturday evening. The white-and-blue, twin-engine jet taxied up at 7:15 p.m., about a half-hour past its scheduled arrival.
Passengers waiting for the flight back to San Francisco took the relatively brief delay in stride and were more than happy to find out they’d be boarding a much roomier plane than they had expected.
Keith Hermansader, a Bay Area resident who travels to Corvallis via Eugene about twice a month, said the big jet will make the trip much more comfortable.
“That’s great that they’re getting bigger planes, because the seating is very cramped” on the Canadair jets, he said.
In fact, some of his co-workers who also travel to Corvallis for business prefer to fly into Portland and drive down just to avoid having to take one of the smaller jets. He said they’ll be glad to know they have another choice.
Arriving passengers were happy, too.
“It was a lot better,” said Shirley Ireland, who was just completing a day that began in Austin, Texas. “It was a lot smoother ride.”
Doll said the upgrade will be a boon for the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials this summer. Not only will there be more and roomier seats, but pole vaulters won’t have to fly to Portland to be on a jet big enough to handle their poles.
The 737s have different configurations but typically carry 110 passengers, a step up from the 50 to 66 carried by theregional jets. The bigger planes have a first-class section and often get a higher priority when taking off or landing in bad weather or busy periods,DNoll said.
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