Airlines plan some aircraft changes at Eisenhower Airport – for now

Some airlines at Wichita Eisenhower National Airport have changed or will change to larger aircraft on some of the routes they fly to and from the Air Capital.

The changes – some of which are temporary – occur as the city’s airport sees fewer flights and seats but more passengers.

At least one airline, United, plans to increase capacity the same month that one of its competitors to Chicago plans to abandon the route.

Eisenhower officials said Wednesday that beginning in April, United Airlines will begin using a 120-seat Airbus A320 on its Wichita to Chicago route as well as a mix of the 50- to 70-seat regional jets it has been operating on that route.

United also will discontinue use of a 71-seat turboprop on its Wichita to Denver route in February. Airport officials said the airline also uses a variety of aircraft on the Denver route, including regional jets, Airbus A319s and A320s, and Boeing 737s.

United’s move to add an A320 on its service to Chicago O’Hare International Airport is set to happen the same month that Southwest Airlines plans to end its service to Chicago Midway International Airport.

In October, Southwest announced it was ending its Chicago service as well as flights to Dallas Love Field and instead would be offering nonstop service to Lambert-St. Louis International Airport and Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.

A United spokesman, in an e-mail to The Eagle, wouldn’t confirm whether Southwest’s decision to end Wichita-to-Chicago service prompted the addition of a larger jet.

“One of the ways United is delivering the best travel experience to leisure and business customers flying between Wichita and Chicago O’Hare is by offering more seats per departure on two-cabin aircraft,” United spokesman Jonathan Guerin said in the e-mail.

American Airlines also offers nonstop service from Wichita to Chicago on three daily flights.

And while American hasn’t announced changes to its aircraft serving that route, on Tuesday it switched from a regional jet to a 140-seat MD 80 on one of its Wichita-to-Dallas-Fort Worth flights, until Feb. 6.

American officials wouldn’t confirm Wednesday whether it will move to larger aircraft when Southwest ends its Dallas service.

“American continually evaluates its network to ensure we are maximizing our fleet and profitability while matching customer demand,” the airline said in a statement e-mailed to The Eagle.

American and United aren’t the only ones adding larger aircraft on some routes from Eisenhower.

Starting in March, Delta Air Lines will move from a 50-seat regional jet to primarily 76-seat Bombardier CRJ 9s on its Wichita-to-Minneapolis route. But between April and June, airport officials said, a variety of Delta aircraft will be operated on that route, including the CRJ 9, a 69-seat Embraer E170 and a 50-seat CRJ.

The larger aircraft are welcome at Eisenhower because that will help with capacity, said Valerie Wise, air service and business development manager.

Flights to and from Eisenhower have been full because the number of passengers are up, but the number of flights and available seats are fewer.

According to data from the airport, there were 4 percent fewer airline seats available in the first 11 months of 2015 compared with the same period in 2014. But the number of passengers at Eisenhower has increased nearly 3 percent in the same period.

This story was originally published January 6, 2016 at 10:32 AM with the headline "Airlines plan some aircraft changes at Eisenhower Airport – for now."