The trend toward consolidation and alliances among major airlines may concern some in the Justice Department, but it hasn’t restricted opportunities for regional carriers such as SkyWest Airlines, which last month inked its first code-share deal with US Airways. Supported by a new code-share pact between United Airlines and the Arlington, Va.-based major, this latest contract on August 21 added the US Airways code to SkyWest’s United Express flights between Portland and Spokane and from San Francisco to Boise, Idaho, Eugene, Ore., and the California cities of Fresno, Monterey, Sacramento and Santa Barbara. It also covers SkyWest flights between Los Angeles and Colorado Springs, Colo.; Phoenix and Oakland, Sacramento and San Jose, Calif.

SkyWest said the agreement eventually will allow it to add the US Airways code to most of its United Express flights from Denver, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Portland and Seattle. The US Airways deal gives SkyWest its second new partnership this year. In May the long-time United and Delta affiliate signed a pro-rate contract with Continental Airlines to fly Embraer Brasilias out of Houston.