United Plans Sharp Boost in Number of L.A.-S.F. Flights

By DENISE GELLENE

Jan. 23, 1990 12 AM PT

TIMES STAFF WRITER

United Airlines said Monday that it will sharply increase the number of flights between Los Angeles and its West Coast hub in San Francisco, a move that marks the return of high-frequency travel to the California air corridor.

United said that on April 30, it will begin flights every half hour from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. between Los Angeles and San Francisco. United, and its competitors, USAir and American Airlines, now offer hourly flights between the state’s two largest cities.

By increasing the number of flights to 27 from 16, United is filling a gap left by Pacific Southwest Airlines and AirCal. Those two airlines offered high-frequency travel until they were gobbled up in mergers three years ago.

Since then, American, which bought AirCal, and USAir, which acquired PSA, have reduced the number of flights between Los Angeles and San Francisco and redeployed some aircraft elsewhere. “We took a look at the load factors, and it just wasn’t there on some of the flights,” USAir spokeswoman Agnes Huff said.

Thomas LeGow, United’s marketing vice president, said he is confident that there is demand for the additional flights.

However, an airline executive familiar with the California market said there is reason to doubt that other airlines will match United’s move, adding that few airlines have enough aircraft available to deploy in California. This executive also said it is likely that United will lower its fares, at least initially, to stimulate additional travel--perhaps triggering a fare war.

Bill Pacelli, an analyst with the Avmark aviation consulting firm in Washington, said United appears to be taking advantage of its two chief competitors while they are distracted with other matters. American has devoted resources to building a hub in Miami to capitalize on Eastern Airlines’ difficulties there, while USAir has spent much of the past year digesting Piedmont Airlines.

United also said that on May 1 it will begin service from Burbank to Oakland, making three flights a day.