The burden of pandemic-era airline schedule modifications is still largely carried by small U.S. communities.
A two-hour drive south of Denver in the state of Colorado is a small city called Pueblo, and here is where the most recent example comes from.
As initially noted in Cirium schedules and then confirmed by a company official, United Airlines is ceasing service to Pueblo.
On January 14, 2023, United departs from Pueblo.
Up to twice daily service on the 108-mile route to Denver will continue for the time being on the carrier's schedule.
A 50-seat CRJ-200 is used to fly the route on behalf of United Express' regional affiliate SkyWest Airlines.
A carrier spokeswoman confirmed the Pueblo route cut and said in a coy way that "United periodically alters its schedule for a variety of reasons including demand, the larger demands of our network, and more."
Pueblo is just the latest U.S. city to lose mainline airline service during the pandemic, at a time when major airlines have been struggling with staffing shortages, particularly in their pilot ranks. United's reasoning may not be entirely clear, but Pueblo is one of the major cities that has recently experienced this.
Regional affiliates that have historically functioned as a stepping stone for aspiring pilots hoping to jump-start their careers and eventually work at major U.S. carriers have found it particularly difficult to fill pilot positions as a result of the pilot shortage.
The pilot shortage won't be resolved quickly, despite the efforts made by airlines to build a pipeline of potential candidates.
Carriers have frequently left small cities as a result of it.
In fact, SkyWest forewarned in March that due to the pilot shortage, it would have to abandon as many as 29 cities.
Pueblo was included on SkyWest's list of possible cuts, and the airline stated at the time that it "expects to stop service in numerous cities beginning this summer" due to the "ongoing pilot staffing mismatch across the industry."
According to a network analysis done by aviation consulting firm Ailevon Pacific, American, Delta, and United have collectively withdrawn from a whopping 64 U.S. cities since the outbreak started.
Out of the Big Three U.S. airlines, United has drawn the most attention for the significant decline in regional connectivity, which has already reached 36 markets nationally.
This comprises a variety of cities, such as Lansing, Michigan; Santa Rosa, California; and Destin-Fort Walton Beach, Florida.
The whole list is provided here, and the cuts even apply to Hilo, Hawaii, which is not on the U.S. mainland.
The Essential Air Service program, run by the federal government, has provided financial support for United's Pueblo service in cases where it might not have otherwise been possible.
The Department of Transportation, which oversees the EAS program, puts contracts out to bid from various carriers before making its decision.
Due to a new EAS award, Pueblo will nonetheless continue to receive air service even though it will no longer be connected to United's hub in Denver.
Beginning on January 15, 2023, Southern Airways Express will start operating the United route.
24 weekly nonstop flights in the market will be operated by the small regional airline's nine-seat Beechcraft King Air 200 turboprops.
The new agreement will be in effect until December 31, 2025, and the carrier will be given subsidies of $2,992,087 for the first year and $3,066,890 for the second year of operation.
There will undoubtedly be a significant market capacity drop as well as a general decrease in connection as a result of switching from United Express to Southern Airways Express.
That's because United's extensive network of connections to cities all around the United States and the rest of the world previously allowed visitors traveling to or from Pueblo to do so.
While this is going on, Southern Airways Express doesn't provide a relationship with United, so those traveling outside of the Mile High City will now need to buy separate tickets — or just drive to Denver International Airport (DEN) to start their trip.
During the pandemic, the United cut 36 cities
The cities in the United States that United has left during the pandemic are listed below, according to statistics from Cirium and Ailevon Pacific.
• Abilene, Texas.
• Alamosa, Colorado.
• Alexandria, Louisiana.
• Cape Girardeau, Missouri.
• Clarksburg, West Virginia.
• College Station, Texas.
• Columbia, Missouri.
• Destin-Fort Walton Beach, Florida.
• Eau Claire, Wisconsin.
• Evansville, Indiana.
• Everett/Paine Field, Washington.
• Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri.
• Grand Canyon, Arizona.
• Hilo, Hawaii.
• Kalamazoo/Battle Creek, Michigan.
• Kearney, Nebraska.
• Killeen/Fort Hood, Texas.
• Lansing, Michigan.
• Lewisburg, West Virginia.
• Monroe, Louisiana.
• Muskegon, Michigan.
• Ogdensburg, New York.
• Paducah, Kentucky.
• Pierre, South Dakota.
• Plattsburgh, New York.
• Pueblo, Colorado.
• Rochester, Minnesota.
• San Angelo, Texas.
• Santa Rosa, California.
• Staunton/Waynesboro, Virginia.
• Stockton, California.
• Tallahassee, Florida.
• Texarkana, Arkansas.
• Twin Falls, Idaho.
• Watertown, South Dakota.
• Wausau, Wisconsin.
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