Small Market Flyers Get First Class Option on US Airways Express

US Airways (NYSE: LCC) today announced the addition of First Class service to 110 US Airways Express regional jets – expanding the number of domestic flights with First Class and the availability of upgrades for the airline’s Dividend Miles Preferred frequent flyer members. The Company also announced several enhancements to its domestic First Class and Envoy international business class experience.

US Airways to add First Class service to 110 US Airways Express regional jets. (Photo: Business Wire)

US Airways will install First Class on the Embraer 170 and 175 and Canadair Regional Jet 700 and 900 with the initial introduction scheduled for the Embraer E175 fleet beginning this October. The three remaining regional jet fleets will be completed by the end of January 2012. The seats will offer generous legroom and personal space in a 1-2 configuration throughout the dedicated First Class cabin. Once completed, US Airways will offer the highest percentage of daily departures with a First Class cabin among the four major network carriers.

"With the installation of First Class on US Airways’ Express partner aircraft we’re able to offer our First Class customers seamless, same-class service to the more than 85 destinations these aircraft serve,” said Andrew Nocella, senior vice president marketing and planning, US Airways. ”This will also offer our Dividend Miles Preferred members complimentary upgrades on nearly 640 more flights each day.”

When installation is complete, First Class customers can expect the same benefits when traveling on First Class-equipped US Airways Express aircraft that they currently experience on mainline flights including:

• Priority check-in
• Priority security lines (where available)
• Early boarding
• A dedicated cabin
• A larger seat with increased legroom
• Complimentary alcoholic beverages
• Complimentary snacks
• Complimentary pillows and blankets
• Priority baggage handling

"US Airways Express serves a very important role for our airline and our customers,” said Dion Flannery, president, US Airways Express. "By working with our partners PSA, Mesa and Republic Airways, we’re now able to provide the level of service and comfort our First Class passengers desire while connecting them to mainline flights in our hub cities.”

The airline anticipates that the addition of First Class to US Airways Express will be revenue positive in the first year due to the additional revenue from First Class sales and the sale of upgrades.

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

US Airways also announced that on April 1 it introduced heartier meals and new snacks to its domestic First Class and brought back glassware on all meal flights. On flights between 1.5 and 3.5 hours, the airline replaced its existing snacks with a new lineup of larger, premium brand snacks such as Late July® Bite Size Cheddar Cheese Crackers, Immaculate Baking Co® Chocobillys® chocolate chip cookies and Newtons® Mixed Berry Fruit Crisps. Almost all the new snacks are made with all-natural and/or organic ingredients and range from savory to sweet.

On flights longer than 3.5 hours that depart between 5 a.m. and 8 p.m., First Class customers will now have an upgraded breakfast, lunch or dinner with their choice of two hot entrees, including a vegetarian option. In addition, lunch and dinner meals now include fresh appetizers, upgraded premium desserts and a choice of bakery breads. Menus will vary slightly on Embraer 190 and Boeing 737 aircraft.

Nocella added, "We believe it’s important to offer a truly first class experience for those customers who choose to purchase First Class and for our Dividend Miles Preferred members who enjoy the unlimited upgrades they receive from our frequent flyer program. We’ve taken a fresh look at our onboard experience and upgraded those First Class attributes that are important to these customers.”

Finally, on May 1, US Airways will launch a series of enhancements to the food and overall meal presentation in Envoy, the airline's business class product to Europe, South America and the Middle East. The redesigned menu will feature a signature six ounce American-style filet plus three other entrée choices, one of which is always a vegetarian dish. Appetizers, desserts and arrival snacks will also be refreshed to provide a restaurant-style experience on board. All of these menu enhancements will be offered on new and modern china that will upgrade the overall meal presentation.

Additional information about Envoy and the Envoy Suite is available at www.usairways.com/envoy.

About US Airways:

US Airways, along with US Airways Shuttle and US Airways Express, operates more than 3,200 flights per day and serves more than 200 communities in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Europe, the Middle East, the Caribbean, Central and South America. The airline employs more than 32,000 aviation professionals worldwide and is a member of the Star Alliance network, which offers its customers 21,000 daily flights to 1,160 airports in 181 countries. Together with its US Airways Express partners, the airline serves approximately 80 million passengers each year and operates hubs in Charlotte, N.C., Philadelphia and Phoenix, and a focus city in Washington, D.C. at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. US Airways was the only airline included as one of the 50 best companies to work for in the U.S. by LATINA Style magazine’s 50 Report for 2010. For the sixth year in a row, the airline also earned a 100 percent rating on the Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equality index, a leading indicator of companies’ attitudes and policies toward lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees and customers. For more company information, visit usairways.com. (LCCG)

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