US carrier realigns network

US Airways has announced several significant changes to its network. It will be downsizing its Las Vegas operation from Febraury by almost 50% dropping to 36 daily departures from the current total of 64. It will redeploy its Embraer E190 aircraft on its hugely sucessful shuttle brand which operates Washington DCA, Boston and New York La Guardia LGA.

It will launch eight new routes from Washington DCA where it already operates 1387 weekly flights.

In terms of its International network the Star Alliance carrier plans to suspend five markets for the Winter season, Birmingham, London Gatwick, Milan Malpensa, Shannon and Stockholm, whilst it has returned its allocation to serve Beijing from Philadelphia which the carrier attributes to the global economic situation.