Which airlines merged with United Airlines?

United Airlines was founded in 1926 when Boeing Air Transport was established. Throughout the years, United has merged with and acquired other airlines to build its network.

Here is an overview of the major U. S. airlines that have merged with United over the years:

Pacific Southwest Airlines In 1988, United Airlines bought Pacific Southwest Airlines PSA, based in San Diego. PSA was established in 1949 and served as an intrastate carrier in California. At the time of its purchase by United, PSA was flying to 28 cities in California and Reno, Nevada, with a fleet of Boeing B jets and British Aerospace J jets. The PSA merger allowed United's West Coast to grow.

Pan American Airlines World Airways United acquired Pan American's trans-Pacific route network, including aircraft and hub facilities in key locations like New York JFK Airport and Los Angeles, when Pan American World Airways closed its doors in 1991 after 65 years. Particularly in Asia and Oceania, the Pan-Am agreement offered United a major boost in developing its worldwide route network.

USA Airways Shuttle United Airlines bought East Coast short-haul carrier US Airways in 1998. The arrangement aimed to purchase most of the US Airways fleet of Boeing and Fokker shuttles as well as hubs at New York LaGuardia Airport and Washington, D.C., Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. United's grip on the East Coast was established via the shuttle purchase Still, the division preserved the US Airways moniker.

Air Wisconsin In 1993, United Airlines formed a long-term commercial alliance with regional airline Air Wisconsin, which still operates United Express regional flights for United today. Air Wisconsin was, at the time of the agreement, the largest independently owned regional carrier in the United States that flew British Aerospace and Saab turboprop planes. The alliance lets United serve more passengers to its domestic and international network from smaller markets that are accessible by regional jets.

Atlantic Coast Airlines In 1998, United Airlines brought Atlantic Coast Airlines (ACA) into a contract to fly some United Express regional flights with a regional jet and turboprop fleet. By 2003, ACA was flying more than 400 daily flights to more than 100 cities for United. As Atlantic Coast became more and more operationally and brand-wise aligned with United, the two airlines became one airline by 2006. Atlantic Coast was later known as United Express.

ANZ and Air NZ group companies Air New Zealand and the governments of New Zealand and Australia sold minority stakes in airlines operating in Australia and New Zealand to United Airlines in the mid-to late-seventies. United owned a percentage of Ansett Australia and a percentage of New Zealand-based Ansett International. United also acquired a 50 percent stake in smaller Australian domestic carrier Trans Australia Airlines (TAA) in 1989, which was later combined with Australian Airlines before being rebranded as Qantas.

Shuttle by United After it bought US Airways East Coast shuttle operation, United rebranded it as Shuttle by United. But, with United no longer able to make it profitable, Shuttle by United was retired. The Boeing jets were retired from the United Fleet, and its shuttle operation out of East Coast airports was completely phased out.

Continental Airlines In 1990, Continental Airlines and United Airlines agreed to merge and the two airlines would become the world's largest airline. The merger was cleared in late and the combined United Airlines started flying under a single-air operators certificate in early. Continental and United were both part of Star Alliance and the merger meant that the new carrier could simplify overlapping routes and enhance its international network through North American hubs.

Thus, during the last several decades, United Airlines has expanded through the purchase or merger with numerous U. S. airlines, both domestic and international. Major mergers include Pan Am, Continental Airlines, Ansett Airlines subsidiaries, Atlantic Coast, and PSA, among others, building a United route network across North America and the world. United Airlines is one of the world's largest airlines, with more than a billion passengers a year.

Book your United Airlines ticket now! Call +1 833-902-2090