The Airchive-United Timetables

		June 1, 1933 United is promoting the launch of what is considered the world's first modern airliner, the Boeing 247. With Boeing its sister company at the time, United received the first off the line blocking other carriers. This action, impart inspired TWA and American to go to Douglas for the DC-2 and DC-3. United's advantage disappeared within 2 years and the 247 was yesterday's news. Special Thanks to: Chris Cummings
		June 1, 1935 United has only recently separated from Boeing and Pratt & Whitney following the Justice Department breaking up the company. The airline was not coincidentially the launch customer for the groundbreaking Boeing 247 in 1933. At the time of this schedule's publication, the superior Douglas DC-3 was nearing introduction which would immediately render the 247 obsolete.
		June 1, 1946 UA's traditional coast to coast and West Coast routes are seen here. This schedule heralded the coming arrival of the DC-4s.
		August 1, 1946 United's post war schedule spotlights the DC-3, DC-4, and coming DC-6 mainliners with unusual branding applied to each plane. Special Thanks to: Chris Cummings
		March 1954 Pat Patterson’s United Airlines was a conservative yet extremely successful airline. By 1954 it was America’s largest airline and the safest.. The route map was centered on the West Coast and transcon along the northern tier. United was the #1 airline to Hawaii, having begun service via San Francisco in 1947.
		November 11, 1955 In 1955, United ordered 30 DC-8’s costing $150 million dollars, the largest airplane order in history up that time. UA was operating transcon service from New York to LAX and San Francisco.
		August 1, 1959 The following month United and Delta would debut the Douglas DC-8. United launched its service between San Francisco and New York.
		June 1961 United began operating the first short range jet, the Caravelle, in 1961. The Caravelle was used on a variety of short to medium routes including a New York to Chicago “all men” flight. United purchased Capital Airlines in the year making it the largest airline in the free world. Flights were extended to Florida and Atlanta for the first time with the merger with Capital. With it’s DC-8s, Boeing 720s, and Caravelle’s, United operated the largest jet fleet in the world at the time.
		Capital Airlines - 1957 With the merger between United and Capital in 1961, United became the largest airline in the free world. The airline would've gone bankrupt and ceased operations were the merger not approved. Many point to the huge purchase of Viscount Turbo Props in 1955 as the beginning of the end.
		October 25, 1964 In 1964, United’s first 727 began service on February 6th between San Francisco, Salt Lake City, and Denver with Chicago coming on line a week later. The last DC-7’s were retired in the Summer of ’64. As indicated on the cover, UA introduced the first 3 Class service on a single aircraft, using the transcon DC-8s.
		October 1, 1968 By 1968 the cautious United added extensive service in the South. While the last of the Viscounts were retired in the year, the first 737-200s joined the fleet. This period marked the debut of the famed “Friendly Skies” campaign.
		June 1, 1969 United introduced a new typeface and updated look in 1969. The 747s would follow a year later.
		April 25, 1971
		February 2, 1972 The previous summer in August 1971, UA inaugurated DC-10 widebody service with a flight from San Francisco to Dulles. The color scheme was again updated with a revised cheatline and typeface until the new look arrived in September 1974. As of 1972, UA had 14 747s and 18 DC-10s in the fleet. The last Boeing 720s were withdrawn in September of the year.
		April 29, 1973
		July 1, 1974 This was the last timetable before the debut of the 1974-93 image with the stylized "U".
		September 8, 1976 United’s new look debut in September 1974. The airline celebrated it’s 50th Anniversary with strong financial results and its status secured as the largest airline in the free world. International flights beyond Canada wouldn’t arrive until 1983.
		July 2, 1981 United’s post deregulation map of 1981 showed new service to Tulsa, Oklahoma City, Wichita, and the resort cities of the Mexican Yucatan Peninsula.
		September 9, 1982 The world’s first 767 service began in August/September 1982. DFW service commenced to Chicago and Denver in mid-May of the year. The first DC-8-61s to be converted to high bypass ‘71s arrived in the year as well. They served until 1991.
		July 1, 1983 The free world’s largest airline didn’t have any overseas service until 1983, On March 2, 1983 United began service from Seattle to Tokyo, picking up Hong Kong a few months later. In February 1986 United would purchase Pan Am’s entire Pacific operations and it’s 747SPs and L-1011-500s.
		October 31, 1985 United became the first airline to serve all 50 states in 1984. In February 1986 United would purchase Pan Am’s entire Pacific operations and it’s 747SPs and L-1011-500s for $425 million dollars. Japan, Bangkok, Manila, Singapore, Shanghai, Bejing, Seoul, Australia, and New Zealand were added. These became the most profitable parts of the system. See the Pan Am pages for maps and more information.
		June 1, 1987 United’s parent company pursued a diversification plan with the establishment of Allegis. This was short lived.
		June 8, 1990 United began service for the first time to Europe. Frankfurt was added to the schedule in June with Paris following in the year. Bermuda and Spain were added in the Spring of 1991. In the Summer of 1991, United came knocking at Pan Ams door again with the purchase of all of PA’ Heathrow services for $290 million dollars. Also in the year, United place the first orders for the Boeing 777 and became the principal development partner.
		October 31, 1991 United continued to expand furiously in Europe following the Summer takeover of Pan Am’s Heathrow routes. Amsterdam, Brussels, Berlin, Hamburg, and Milan would be added. Some of these routes were paired back as United partnered with Lufthansa. In late 1991, United purchased all of defunct Pan Am’s Latin American routes. The DC-8-71s were retired in this year. The DC-8 served with United for 32 years.
		February 9, 1994 By 1994 United was an airline transformed with service to Asia, Latin America, and Europe – none of which existed 10 years before. To mark this feat, The “Worldwide Service” campaign and livery were introduced at the end of 1993. The next year UA took delivery of the world’s first 777. In 1994, United’s low cost Shuttle by United was launched, though this was dismantled in 2001. United was at it’s peak from 1994-99. The Boeing 747SP’s finally supplanted by the 747-400 were gone by the end of the year.
		January 7, 1997 The Boeing 777, for which United was the launch customer, is depicted on the cover of the timetable. The 777’s first flight in service with the United was June 7, 1995 from Dulles-Frankfurt. The previous year, United launch what was at the time, the world’s longest scheduled commercial flight Chicago to Hong Kong. The last of the passenger DC-10, after 26 years of service, were retired in 1997 though 3 continued in freighter configuration until 2001. This timetable was over 700 pages thick.
		October 31, 1999 United’s campaign was “Rising” but it’s reputation was doing anything but by this point. James Goodwin led the airline, and in fact the industry in suffering self inflicted wounds. As airlines entered a slowdown, Goodwin tried to merge United with weak US Airways. This resulted in a slowdown by pilots in Summer 2000 and United’s worst operational performance ever! Goodwin capitulated to pilot demands and granted a 20% pay increase, and other airline’s followed suit. In the end, the business travel grounded to a halt while labor costs swelled sending UA into a tailspin even before the Terrorist Attacks of 9/11. The US Airways merger was, mercifully, rejected by the Justice Department. This timetable was over 700 pages thick.
		February 1, 2001 Special Thanks to: Chris Cummings
		September 5, 2001 This was the last printed timetable United ever produced. 6 days after this was published, the Terrorist Attacks of 9/11 changed the world and the industry. United’s problems are well known but the most incredible example of the fall of this proud airline, that was once the beacon of stability in the industry was the $2 billion dollars it lost in 2002. Capacity has been diminished by 30% from it’s peak with significant cuts everywhere. United is now in Chapter 11 bankruptcy with it’s survival chances 50/50 at best. Even during this trying time, United’s valiant employees have returned it to excellent operational performance. Let’s hope United’s 75th Anniversary, isn’t its last and that the skies are friendly once again.
		2003 Route Map In 2003, United was still in the worst shape of all the carriers. It continued to prune its route map and frequencies.
		2004 Ted Route Map United launched its own LCC, Ted. Unlike its predecessor United Shuttle, Ted operates an all A-320 fleet primarily on leisure oriented sectors. Unlike competitor Frontier, it is mainly a point to point operation with a quasi-hub at Denver. On board service is similar to the mainline UA sans hot meals and first class. IFE systems are standard single program displays. Reportedly, Ted is experiencing success which is welcome news for United indeed!

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