Actually... The route is being UPGRADED not downgraded
The reason why UA takes over the EWR route from CO is that UA sees BRU as a premium market (yes that's right, BRU is a premium market for UA on the IAD/ORD and EWR routes) and that they want to deploy year round an airplane with a dedicated first class section besides a regular business class. (BRU has a F demand and CO planes don't have F on board. The reason that BRU is considered a premium market is that UA has quite some contracts (governmental and private) and thus is certain of F and C being sold.
Currently UA is indeed deploying the "old" 777 configs on BRU and loads of other TATL routes, however when UA's 777's are being reconfigurated in the new layout all the routes will have lie flat seats in C.
But in the mean time TPAC routes are getting priority to get the newly reconfigurated planes with markets like LHR getting occasionaly a newly configurated plane to "test".
Just a bit patience and it will all work out
Actually I do sleep much better in UA's old recliners in C then in lie flat seats like CO has on the plane. But that's probably a personal taste
CO060 will become UA960
CO061 will become UA961
year round operated by a 772 instead of occasionally like CO did (due lack of planes)
