In an apparent shift in strategy, Independence Air [FLYI] in June will begin flying the Airbus 319 on some of its flights to Charlotte, N.C.

Three of the eight roundtrips between Charlotte and Washington Dulles International Airport will now be on the 132-seat Airbus. The move will nearly doubled the number of seats to the major banking center from 350 seats to 646 seats. Five daily trips will continue to be on the 50-seat Bombardier [BBD] CRJ 200. The carrier currently flies seven round-trips using its CRJ 200 fleet.

Since Independence began flying the Airbus last December, it has been deployed to high-traffic leisure destinations. Its first flights were to Florida winter resort cities. The next destination was Las Vegas. Independence will begin to fly to West Coast cities in April and May.

By flying to Charlotte, Independence will be taking direct aim at one of bankrupt US Airways [UAIRQ] strongest routes. Charlotte is one of US Airways' two hubs and its flies into each of three Washington airports. At the moment, Independence Air will be undercutting the US Airways Dulles-to-Charlotte fare by $5 when all fees and taxes are factored in.