WASHINGTON (AP) -- US Airways and Delta Air Lines have launched a new competition for airline shuttle traffic between Boston and Washington.
US Airways announced today that it would rename its hourly service between Boston's Logan International Airport and Washington's Reagan National Airport as US Airways Shuttle service starting July 9.It will also make the same changes to its hourly service between Washington's Dulles International Airport and both Boston and New York within the next few months.
The shuttle service, which is currently used on flights between Boston and New York and between New York and Washington, provides for separate check-in areas, free newspapers and light snacks.
While mentioned in general terms when US Airways bought shuttle routes at the end of 1997, the change comes less than a week after Delta revealed that it would begin offering its own nonstop shuttle service between Logan and National starting June 1.
Unlike US Airways' hourly service, the Delta flights will operate every other hour during the business day. Delta currently offers hourly service between Boston and New York and between New York and Washington. On all its shuttle flights, it has amenities including free newspapers and snacks.
The Northeast Corridor has been a historic battleground for airlines. Each month Delta alone flies an average of 170,000 passengers between Boston, New York and Washington.
Amtrak recently announced that it bid for more of the market later this year, when it begins running 150-mph "Acela" trains between Boston and New York and between New York and Washington.
The high-speed trains are designed to be competitive with the airlines when considering travel from the center of one city to another. Airline passengers often have to account for travel time to and from the airports in each city, which can add delays and expense to a trip.