Flying on a regional jet can be a cramped, unfriendly, please-get-this-over-with experience. But UAL
United's new regional jet terminal in Denver, set to open in late April, will feature several high-end services for passengers, including a Starbucks, an upscale deli, and a Belgian brewpub. Call it a touch of first class for the second class.
The timing seems appropriate. From 2000 to 2006, UAL has increased regional jet capacity by roughly 50%, thanks to more flights and larger jets, including Embraer's
Meanwhile, United's "explus" service -- which offers a first-class cabin and more spacious seating for the sardine set -- appears to be performing well. Management, for its part, has said that explus is more profitable than what it replaced.
But United isn't alone in its zeal for profits in the smaller skies. Northwest, for example, is shrinking its mainline fleet to accommodate more regional jets. And US Airways
Could that signal an industrywide shift to smaller jets? Don't be too sure. Airbus recently completed the first intercontinental flights of its superjumbo A380 jet. Meanwhile, creeping globalization virtually ensures that we'll want to travel farther, faster in the future.
Still, if there's one thing all airlines like, it's money. If United finds a way to make more of it by catering to the upscale tastes of its most frequent small-jet flyers, you can bet the rest of the industry will notice -- and seek to capitalize.
Do you agree? Disagree? Let me know.
Fool contributor Tim Beyers doesn't usually fly regional jets, but he'll take a latte wherever he can get one. Tim didn't own shares in any of the companies mentioned in this article at the time of publication. Embraer and Starbucks are Stock Advisor picks. The Motley Fool's disclosure policy prefers a double decaffeinated half-caf, with a twist of lemon.
