Chicago ? Hoping to draw more business travelers, bankrupt United Airlines cut fares sharply Monday for flights involving its two biggest hubs.

American Airlines and Continental Airlines largely matched the lower business fares. Delta Air Lines also has been revising its business travel prices recently.

United said coach fares with no advance purchase for direct flights to and from Chicago and Denver, as well as markets reached through connecting service in those cities, were cut by as much as 40 percent.

The fares on tickets purchased seven days in advance for the same flights are being cut as much as 70 percent, according to United spokesman Joe Hopkins.

Hopkins said the airline hoped the reduced fares on flights that do not require a Saturday night stay would attract business travelers.

“The key message for us is this is something we feel business travelers have been asking for,” he said.