United Airlines
United Airlines, headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, is the world’s largest airline in terms of passenger revenue since its merger with Continental Airlines in 2010, and the second-largest carrier in fleet size and destinations offered.
The oldest airline in the U.S., United was founded by Walter Varney in Boise, Idaho, as a biplane mail carrier service. Operating as Varney Airlines, the inaugural flight as a commercial carrier was April 6, 1926 transporting mail from Boise to the railroad mail hub at Pasco, Washington.
In 1927, William Boeing founded his own airline and purchased Varney's, one of many small airmail carriers, airplane and parts manufacturing companies and airports that became United Aircraft and Transport Corp. in 1929. In 1930, once the capacity of airplanes was proved large enough to carry passengers as well as mail, United hired Ellen Church, a registered nurse, to assist passengers on flights, making her the first airline flight attendant.
In 1934 following an Air Mail scandal, William Boeing's company was divided into a parts supplier which became United Technologies, the aircraft manufacturer that is known as Boeing, and the United Air Lines group.
United Airlines now flies passengers worldwide, through their hubs at Antonio B. Won Pat International Airport, Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, Denver International Airport, George Bush Intercontinental Airport, Los Angeles International Airport, Narita International Airport, Newark Liberty International Airport, O'Hare International Airport, San Francisco International Airport, and Washington Dulles International Airport.
Fleet
United Airlines' fleet consists Airbus A319, A320, A350, and Boeing 737, 757, 767, 777, and the new Dreamliner 787, to enter service in 2011, giving is 715 aircraft to get passengers where they need to be.
In-flight services on United include sky-high entertainment for all passengers, with audio programming by Zune and partnerships for video programming with various television networks. "From the Flightdeck" is a unique audio channel offered on selected flights (and at the pilot's discretion) that let passengers listen in on live communications between the cockpit and Air Traffic Control.
United First and United Business class provide separate check-in counters for passengers, and priority security screening where available. Pre-flight beverages, table linens, and gourmet 3- or 5-course meals are just a few of the perks passengers in the wide, comfortable seats can enjoy.
For the passengers in Economy class, on international and longer domestic flights, United still offers a meal service, ranging from snack boxes and sandwiches to full 3-course hot meals. Shorter flights have the traditional beverage and snack service.
Check with your travel agent or the airline about your in-flight details.
Other information
Over the years, United's been a popular airline in movies and music, having various incarnations of their "Fly Our Friendly Skies" tagline used in songs recorded by Leanne Scott, and Crosby, Stills, and Nash.
In the movies, United's airplanes have been featured in "The Terminal" with Tom Hanks, the "Rush Hour" film series, and "United 93", the story of one of the ill-fated hijacked aircraft on September 11, 2001.
In 2008, United hit YouTube fame when baggage handlers damaged Canadian musician David Carroll's guitar and refused to pay for repairs. Carroll and his band, Sons of Maxwell, wrote and recorded a song about the incident, posting it on YouTube. The video received over a million views and garnered some dubious press for the airline. In the end, United compensated Carroll.
Airline website United Airlines |
