United Express is about to make short regional hops noticeably more pleasant. The airline's first CRJ450 — a converted Bombardier CRJ200 registered N973SW — is slated to enter service in December, flying out of Chicago O'Hare and Denver International before the end of 2026. SkyWest Airlines operates the jet on United's behalf, and the first two conversions were still in progress at SkyWest's Tucson maintenance base in early November.
The idea is simple: instead of buying new planes, United is gutting tired 50-seat regional jets and rebuilding them with fewer, better seats. Capacity drops from 50 to 41, split into 7 United First seats, 16 Economy Plus and 18 standard economy. That's a genuine two-class cabin on an aircraft type that used to be all-economy.
Two practical changes stand out for passengers. First-class gets a dedicated closet instead of overhead bins, freeing up cabin space. And in economy, redesigned overhead bins are sized for standard rollaboard bags — a fix for the familiar ritual on small regional jets where your carry-on gets gate-checked at the last minute.
Connectivity is the other headline feature. The CRJ450 will carry Starlink Wi-Fi, free for MileagePlus members, per United's March 2026 announcement. What it won't have is the self-service snack bar found on United's larger CRJ550 — so this is an upgraded regional product rather than a mini mainline cabin.
The conversion process took longer for the first aircraft than it will going forward; subsequent jets should take roughly two to three weeks each once service bulletins are coordinated. SkyWest expects to convert around 50 CRJ200s into CRJ450s by 2028, with a multi-year agreement covering 40 for United — and it sees potential for as many as 100 conversions overall when you include aircraft for its own prorate operations.
Why should a traveller care? These jets are aimed squarely at smaller cities that can't fill bigger aircraft. United says the CRJ450 will primarily connect smaller communities with its Chicago and Denver hubs, bringing first-class seating to markets where it has never made commercial sense. The first CRJ200 in this story was delivered back in June 2004 and converted in March 2026 — evidence that even two-decade-old airframes can feel current again with the right cabin. Lafayette, Indiana, home to Purdue University's airport, is the kind of market that could benefit, though United hasn't confirmed it as a destination.
If you're booking a United Express regional flight in the next year or two, it's worth checking the equipment type. A CRJ450 assignment means Wi-Fi, extra legroom options and a real first-class row on what might otherwise be a cramped 50-seater. Expect the type to become a common sight on shorter spokes from ORD and DEN through 2028 if the early conversions perform.
