By Keith L. Alexander

The Washington Post

Posted November 6 2005

United Airlines is slowly rolling out its latest weapon in its battle to fight off low-cost carriers and win over business travelers: new 70-seat regional jets.

Unlike most small jets, these aircraft for short-haul flights of up to three hours on United Express have three seating sections -- first class, ``economy plus`` and coach. In first class, the Embraer 170 twin-engine planes also have extra legroom (38 inches) and meals (a cold sandwich). Coach passengers get a soft drink and a snack.

Dulles International Airport near Washington, D.C., will eventually have the second-largest concentration of the jets after Chicago`s O`Hare International Airport, United`s hometown airport.

United is phasing in the new jets partly in response to complaints from customers who said the airline`s 50-seat regional aircraft were too cramped. The Embraer planes also allow United -- which has been operating under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection for nearly three years -- to provide service on less popular routes without having to use larger, higher-cost jets. ``Our passengers were less tolerant of the smaller planes, which is why we`re going for the 70-seaters,`` said Sean Donohue, vice president of United Express.

United Express co-pilot Kent Brace said he was pleased by the roominess of the planes. At 6 feet, 6 inches, Brace said he didn`t have to hunch over in the cabin, as he did in the 50-seat aircraft. He said that on a recent flight to Montreal, he stood straight up and still had about an inch to spare between his head and the cabin`s ceiling. ``This is a lot better than the other ones,`` Brace said.

The planes have a two-seat configuration, meaning no middle seat. There are two restrooms, two pilots and two attendants on each flight.

The aircraft don`t have any in-flight entertainment because ``most travelers have their own iPods, personal DVD players and laptops,`` Donohue said.

United`s new regional fleet is aimed at drawing passengers away from Independence Air, its biggest competitor at Dulles. Independence Air used to operate United`s regional jets out of Dulles under the name Atlantic Coast Airlines before breaking away to form a low-cost airline. Independence flies coach-only, 50-seat Bombardier regional planes. ``We`re going to win this battle,`` Donohue said.

United will operate 28 of the Embraer planes by the end of the year and another 77 by June.