Airport loses 737 but gains a flight.

Byline: SUSAN PALMER The Register-Guard

The airlines taketh away, but sometimes, they giveth back, too.

On the day the last United Airlines Boeing 737 jet taxied down the Eugene runway, to be replaced by smaller Canadair CRJ 500s, America West announced daily nonstop flights to Las Vegas, slated to begin March 1.

The loss of the 737s will mean between 68 and 128 fewer daily seats to San Francisco, despite the fact that two more flights have been added, bringing the total of nonstop flights to five, said Eugene Airport Manager Bob Noble.

The change probably will have the biggest impact on business and holiday travelers, said Karen Stahlberg, co-owner of Sunrise Travel in Eugene. "We're mostly going to see it during peak travel times. And business travelers don't tend to book in advance, so they might find the flights are full," she said.

United made the decision to pull the larger aircraft, which seat between 106 and 126 passengers, in a cost-cutting move last October. The airline has since declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy in an effort to reorganize.

United Express jets operated by Skywest Airlines begin the San Francisco flights today using jets that seat 50 people.

Some travelers waiting to board Flight No. 1423, the last large jet out of Eugene on Monday at 5:50 p.m., said the change to a smaller jet would have little effect on them or their travel plans.

"I'm not really concerned as long as the cost doesn't change," said David Nicholson, a 23-year-old Stanford University student heading back to school after spending the holidays with his family in Eugene.

But United's changes will pose problems for Victor Blum, vice president of a computer store in Eugene.

"It's going to be harder to get booked and it'll be cramped," Blum said. For a guy who's well over 6 feet tall, the Canadair regional jets are just too small.

"You eat your knees," he said.

Blum, who travels about eight times a year, also was disappointed to learn that the earliest flight out of Eugene will now depart at 8:15 a.m. instead of 6:32 a.m. The later flight will make it impossible to schedule morning or daylong meetings in San Francisco, and will create connection headaches for travelers like him, he said.

Monday's final flight was an emotional one for some United employees, most of whom will either transfer to take jobs at other United locations or stay on in Eugene to work for SkyWest.

Wendy Guentner, a flight attendant who lives in Eugene but works international flights for United, snapped pictures of the ground crew at the airport's boarding area, some of whom got a little teary. They're a close-knit group, she said.

"I've been commuting through here for 14 years, and these guys have been like family," Guentner said.

While travelers sort out how United's changes will affect them, travel agents say the addition of a direct flight to Las Vegas is welcome news.

"Las Vegas is one of the top destinations where we send clients," Stahlberg said. "We've been meeting with the Eugene Airport and pushing for Las Vegas for years."

The glittery city famous for its casinos and glitzy hotels attracts people who want an exotic getaway but can't afford the time or money to visit places such as Hawaii or Mexico, she said.

Rife with convention centers, Vegas also attracts plenty of business clients, she said.

Beginning March 1, daily flights will depart at 7:30 p.m. and arrive at 9:33 p.m. The return flight's a bit of a groaner, departing at 12:15 a.m. and arriving in Eugene at 2:20 a.m.

"Oh, my, that's rotten," Stahlberg said.

Travelers might be forced to keep a hotel room an extra day, since checkout times are usually around noon, or stow their bags with a concierge, she said. Either that or add a stop in Phoenix in order to leave earlier, she said.

America West Airlines spokeswoman Janice Monahan said the late-night flights help keep costs down, which makes them more attractive to travelers. The daily flights are expected to cost around $250 round-trip.

America West first came to the Eugene market in 1999, offering nonstop flights to Phoenix and promising to expand here if Eugene businesses agreed to use the airline regularly.

Monahan wouldn't give specific figures on how full the Eugene-Phoenix flights are.

"We needed the flights to our Phoenix hub to be established and successful. Now that they are, we are ready to expand," she said.

The airport sweetened the pot for America West by agreeing to contribute between $20,000 and $30,000 to help advertise the flights, Noble said. For now, the subsidy is for one year only, he said.

The city-owned airport does not rely on local taxes. Instead, its operating revenue comes from parking fees, rent from airport tenants and airline landing fees, among other sources.

Reporter Edward Russo contributed to this report.

AIRPORT FACTS

United Express: Operated by Skywest; takes over today for United Airlines with five daily nonstop flights to San Francisco at 8:15 a.m., 10:38 a.m., 1:25 p.m., 3:34 p.m. and 5:40 p.m.

America West Airlines: Operated by Mesa Airlines with service provided by America West Express; will add daily nonstop flight to Las Vegas at 7:35 p.m. beginning March 1.

Other carrier: Horizon Air

Destinations: Currently, travelers can fly nonstop from Eugene to Portland, Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix and Denver.

CAPTION(S):

United Airlines employee Dave Wilcoxen (left) hugs his wife, Diana, as the last United flight arrives at the Eugene Airport. Wilcoxen will retire rather than relocate.