For Immediate Release:  January 30, 2008
Contact: Cathryn Stephens, Director of Marketing & Public Relations, Eugene Airport, 682-5430, cathryn.e.stephens@ci.eugene.or.us

United Airlines Mainline Service Returns

United Airlines mainline service will return to the Eugene Airport starting March 30, 2008. The increase in service will bring Boeing 737 aircraft back to the Eugene market, providing passengers with more seat availability on larger planes, serving the San Francisco route.
 
“The United Express service has been operating with extremely high load-factors on flights between Eugene and San Francisco, so it makes sense for United Airlines to increase service at this time,” said Eugene Airport Director Tim Doll. “The key to gaining the increase in service was having our community partners step up and join us in this effort.”

Officials with the Eugene Airport and community partnership organizations worked together in developing a marketing proposal for United Airlines. The Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce, Springfield Chamber of Commerce, Convention & Visitors Association of Lane County Oregon and Lane Metro Partnership contributed financial and in-kind resources toward this success.

“Securing new air service opportunities is always a competitive process,” said Dave Hauser, president of the Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce. “I’m pleased that our Chamber could be a part of a unique collaboration of economic development organizations that helped bring full-sized jets back to the Eugene Airport.”

United Airlines was the first airline to provide commercial service at the Eugene Airport in 1943, building on that service to five daily Boeing 737 flights to San Francisco in 2002. In January 2003, United Express service was brought in, utilizing 50-seat and 66-seat regional jets operated by SkyWest Airlines. 

For more information go to www.flyEUG.com.