United Express to Be Flying O.C. to Oakland

United Express will inaugurate jetliner service May 1 from Orange County to Oakland and will increase flights to Sacramento, taking advantage of USAir’s recent decision to quit John Wayne Airport, airline officials said Thursday.

Mark Peterson, spokesman for United Express, said the commuter carrier will increase the number of round-trip flights to Oakland on March 15 from six to nine, using 30-seat Embraer Brasilia turboprops.

Then, on May 1, 90-seat BAE-146 jet aircraft will be used, he said. The number of flights will be reduced to four because of the increase in seat capacity.

Round trips from Orange County to Sacramento will be increased May 1 from four to five, using the Brasilias, he said.

The schedule changes will not affect fares, Peterson said.

The United Express move comes after USAir’s Jan. 25 announcement that it is dropping 22 daily flights from Orange County to the Bay Area, Sacramento and Phoenix. The airline cited the recession and intense competition as reasons for the cutbacks.

“USAir’s decision to drop out of this market has presented additional opportunities for us,” Peterson said.

The increased United Express service involves aircraft quiet enough to be exempt from John Wayne Airport’s strict noise limits. On Wednesday, airport officials released a proposed reassignment of USAir’s noisier flights to various airlines, such as American, Alaska and Continental.

Fresno-based WestAir operates United Express under a marketing agreement with United Airlines.