ERIE, PA. US Airways jet service resumes after push

Political and city leaders have worked for the past year to bring jets back.
ERIE, Pa. (AP) -- US Airways will resume jet service between Erie and Pittsburgh, the company announced Monday, just over a year after ending similar service.
The airline will operate one daily nonstop round-trip flight between its Pittsburgh hub and Erie International Airport beginning Jan. 5, 2003, US Airways said. The new service will be operated by US Airways Express carrier Mesa Airlines using Embraer-145 regional jets, the airline said.
Political and city leaders have been lobbying the airline to resume service since October 2001, when US Airways announced it would replace jet service with turboprop flights.
"Senator Arlen Specter and Pennsylvania Congressman Phil English have worked tirelessly to have regional jet service restored to Erie, and together we are pleased to be able to complement our schedule with these modern aircraft," said B. Ben Baldanza, US Airways senior vice president of marketing and planning.
Filling the gaps
Since US Airways' announcement to withdraw jet service last year, other airlines have stepped in. Northwest Airlines announced it would route jet service through Detroit two weeks after US Airways announced it would pull out.
English said he was pleased by US Airways' announcement.
"I consider this a great breakthrough and follow-through on the commitments that US Airways has made to me and the Erie community," he said. "This is a great boost for the Erie airport and all of the customers in our region."
Calls to Erie Airport Director Kelly Fredericks were not immediately returned late Monday.