United Airlines Retires its Last 737

The first carrier to make the Boeing 737, United Airlines retired its last of these planes. Pilots, flight attendants, and other aviation buffs were sad to see it go, in the wave of what has been the removal of 94 Boeing 737s since September 2008.

A staple 41 years ago when United Airlines first brought them into service, 737s are said to have revolutionized air travel because it was relatively lightweight, could seat 120 passengers, and required only two pilots to fly it, rather than the standard three at the time.

The carrier removed the planes in an order to cut costs, which ultimately resulted in the loss of jobs, but may have been the action that saved the company from getting into financial trouble.

United said goodbye to the 737 by having a ceremonious “airborne” party from the east coast to the west coast. It finally landed in San Francisco, and will be sent to the California desert to be parked.

© Cheapflights Ltd Andrea Mooney