US Airways Adds In-Flight and Ground Service Enhancements

US Airways and its regional-airline partners have completed installing domestic First Class cabins in 110 US Airways Express regional jets, with the U.S. major carrier also upgrading its service product elsewhere throughout its mainline fleet and airport lounges.

The US Airways Express fleets of Embraer 175s, Embraer 170s, Bombardier CRJ700s and Bombardier CRJ900s now feature First Class cabins. US Airways says it now offers seamless same-class service to more than 85 destinations and offers a higher percentage of domestic flights with first-class cabins than the other major U.S. network carriers.

US Airways began installing its First Class product on its Express aircraft in September and completed all aircraft in mid-December. The seats offer extra legroom and more personal space and offer a one-two seat configuration in each seat row throughout each US Airways Express First Class cabin.

The airline’s First Class customers now experience the same service benefits when traveling on First Class-equipped US Airways Express aircraft as they experience on mainline flights. These include priority check-in; priority security lines (where available); early boarding; a dedicated cabin; a larger seat with increased leg room; complimentary alcoholic beverages; complimentary snacks; complimentary pillows and blankets; and priority baggage-handling.

Various types of regional jets are employed on the US Airways Express network, among them a fleet of 38 Embraer 175s like this one photographed at Philadelphia International Airport. In addition to the Embraer 175s, the US Airways network also uses several other fleets of large regional jets, including 14 Bombardier CRJ700s, 38 CRJ900s and 20 Embraer 170s. All of these aircraft feature two-class cabins with domestic First Class seats

“By working with our Express partners PSA, Mesa and Republic Airways, we are now able to provide the same levels of service our First Class passengers desire on our fleet of larger regional jets,” says Dion Flannery, president of US Airways Express. “With more than 640 additional daily flights with First Class available, Dividend Miles Preferred members have more opportunities to take advantage of complimentary upgrades while traveling on US Airways Express.”

The US Airways Express network operates 14 Bombardier CRJ700s, each offering nine First Class seats with a seat pitch of 37 inches (94 centimeters) and 58 Coach seats with a seat pitch of 31in (78.7cm). All two-class US Airways Express jets feature the same 31in seat pitch in Coach.

US Airways Express operates 38 Bombardier CRJ900s, each with nine First Class seats, which offer a 38in (96.5cm) seat pitch, and 70 Coach seats; 20 Embraer 170s, each with nine First Class seats pitched at 37in and 60 Coach seats; and 38 Embraer 175s, each offering eight First Class seats pitched at 37in and 72 Coach seats.

For more information about US Airways Express First Class visit www.usairways.com/expressfirst.

In addition to the improvements made to its Express fleet, US Airways has begun installation of Envoy Suites – the airline’s fully lie-flat business-class seats with an advanced on-demand in-flight entertainment system – on its fleet of nine widebody Airbus A330-300s.

US Airways operates nine Airbus A330-323X widebodies on long-haul routes, as well as seven A330-200s (with eight more on order), 15 Boeing 757-200ER ETOPS aircraft and 10 Boeing 767-200ERs. In addition, US Airways has 18 Airbus A350-800s and four A350-900s on order

Over the past year, the airline has also invested more than $1.5 million in product enhancements and renovations to its US Airways Club airport lounges.

Enhancements include a revamped wine menu at all Club locations, with a greater selection of premium wines; an assortment of heartier snacks in US Airways’ Philadelphia and Charlotte clubs during peak transatlantic departure hours; a new US Airways Club lounge in Terminal 2 at Raleigh-Durham International Airport, the lounge scheduled to open in late January; refreshed decor and new furniture in the Terminal B club in Phoenix; a new club in New York’s LaGuardia Airport; and a second club in Washington Reagan National Airport.

US Airways has also launched a series of enhancements to its food and overall meal presentation in domestic First Class and Envoy, the airline’s business-class product to Europe, South America and the Middle East. Enhancements include heartier snacks and improved meals in First Class, as well as a redesigned menu in Envoy featuring new entrees, appetizers and desserts.