Chicago, IL — December 2008 — Unified Airlines today celebrated the end of an era with the retirement of its final Boeing 737-200Adv aircraft. These "original workhorses" formed the backbone of Unified's early growth, at one point numbering more than 100 strong and connecting communities across the nation. "The -200Adv is the aircraft upon which this airline was built," said Unified's CEO. "They carried us through boom times, bust times, and more weather diversions than we care to remember."
The 737-200Adv fleet is being replaced by a new generation of aircraft — modern, fuel-efficient, and much quieter McDonnell Douglas MD-90s and Airbus A320 family jets. These aircraft will offer customers a more comfortable ride, lower operating costs, and a smaller environmental footprint. Unified noted that the transition will save millions of gallons of fuel annually, while also keeping the neighbors around major hubs a little happier.
To mark the retirement, Unified operated a special farewell flight featuring a classic livery and commemorative boarding passes for passengers. "This is a bittersweet moment," the CEO added. "We're saying goodbye to an aircraft that defined who we were — but we're excited about the fleet that will define who we are becoming."