Pilot Deal Signals Big Changes at UAL, United Express
United Express carriers now fly 38 Embraer E170s. (Photo: Embraer)
United Express carriers now fly 38 Embraer E170s. (Photo: Embraer)

A new pilot contract ratified by the pilots of United Airlines on December 15 will open more opportunities for “large” regional airplane flying by United Express affiliates but likely result in another large-scale grounding of 50-seat regional jets. It also appears to signal a desire for United to add 90- to 120-seat narrowbodies in the category of the Embraer E190/195 and Bombardier CSeries CS100 some time after January 2016.