The first Airbus in the new United livery departs Greenville, MS, on its way to Chicago and its first day of revenue flying. (Photo: United Airlines)
The first Airbus aircraft of the recent marriage of Continental and United Airlines made its public debut on Friday, January 21 when it operated flight 279 from Chicago (ORD), to Denver (DEN), after being ferried from the paint facility in Greenville (GLH), Mississippi, earlier in the day. From Denver, it operated a round-trip to Des Moines (DSM), Iowa, and continued on to Oakland (OAK), California, where it was to remain overnight.
Continental formerly operated a fleet of wide-bodied Airbus A300 aircraft that it inherited from Eastern Airlines in 1991, but they have long since been retired. (https://www.opshots.net/gallery2/index.php?page=photos&id=15511) . Later, under the Gordon Bethune era, the carrier became an all Boeing fleet upon the retirement of these Airbuses, as well as all the McDonnell Douglas DC-9’s, MD-80’s, and DC-10’s still on the roster.
The merger of the two carriers has resulted in the formation of the world’s largest airline, and is currently operating under the name of “United Continental Holdings” until a single certificate is granted.
While the name says United, the colors of the combined fleet will wear the familiar “globe” scheme introduced by Continental in 1991. The former Continental fleet has been under the process of re-branding for some months now, and it is quickly becoming a common occurrence to see United titles on what were once purely Continental planes, but United has been slower in repainting theirs. Perhaps this has been because the United planes require a complete new painting, whereas the Continental planes only require new titling.
Currently, there are three more Airbus aircraft undergoing transformation in Mississippi; two A320’s and another A319.
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