UNI Airways (Chinese: 立榮航空; pinyin: Lìróng Hángkōng; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Lïp-êng Háng-khong) is a Taiwanese regional airline based in Zhongshan, Taipei, Taiwan.[2][3] With an operation focus on domestic routes, UNI Air is a subsidiary of Evergreen Group, making it a sister airline of the mainline operator EVA Air. It was known as Makung Airlines (馬公航空) until 1996, when EVA Air took a majority share of the airline. In 1998, the airline merged with Great China Airlines (大華航空) and Taiwan Airways (臺灣航空), which EVA Air also had interests in, to form UNI Airways (UNI Air).

UNI Air
立榮航空
IATA ICAO Call sign
B7 UIA GLORY
Founded1988; 36 years ago (1988)
HubsTaipei–Songshan
Focus cities
Frequent-flyer programInfinity MileageLands
Fleet size14
Destinations27
Parent companyEVA Air
HeadquartersZhongshan, Taipei, Taiwan
Key people
Websitewww.uniair.com.tw
Uni Air
Traditional Chinese立榮航空
Simplified Chinese立荣航空
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinLìróng Hángkōng
Southern Min
Hokkien POJLïp-êng Hâng-khong
Former name
Traditional Chinese馬公航空
Simplified Chinese马公航空
Literal meaningMagong International Airlines
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinMǎgōng Hángkōng
Southern Min
Hokkien POJMá-keng Hâng-khong

Overview

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Headquarters in Taipei

UNI Air has operated two-class services, with domestic business- and economy-class seating. Business-class passengers have access to EVA Air's Evergreen Lounges. UNI Air's predecessor, Makung International Airlines, operated a fleet of BAe 146 series jet aircraft. These aircraft were sold when UNI Air was formed. UNI Air's IATA Code is B7, its ICAO code is UIA, and its callsign is Glory, in reference to its sister company Uniglory Shipping Corporation.[4] In 2012, UNI Air unveiled a new livery and tail/logo on the MD-90, the Q300 and its new ATR 72-600 aircraft.[citation needed]

The airline has had the largest market share in the domestic Taiwan market in recent years, and has expanded to include international flights. A few of its former McDonnell Douglas MD-90 and current ATR 72 aircraft were repainted and flew for parent carrier EVA Air due to overcapacity. In recent years, UNI Air has launched services to international destinations from the southern Taiwanese port city of Kaohsiung. In 2007, the airline received permission to begin flights to Japan.[5]

Destinations

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The airline operates mainly to domestic and China destinations and scheduled international flights to Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City and Seoul. Also chartered flights to Surabaya and Jeju from Kaohsiung. UNI Air's destinations are:[6]

Country City Airport Notes Refs
China Chongqing Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport Terminated
Dalian Dalian Zhoushuizi International Airport
Fuzhou Fuzhou Changle International Airport Terminated
Hangzhou Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport
Huangshan Huangshan Tunxi International Airport Terminated [7]
Nanjing Nanjing Lukou International Airport
Ningbo Ningbo Lishe International Airport Terminated
Qingdao Qingdao Jiaodong International Airport
Qingdao Liuting International Airport Airport Closed
Shenyang Shenyang Taoxian International Airport [8]
Shenzhen Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport
Wuxi Sunan Shuofang International Airport [9][10]
Xiamen Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport Terminated
Philippines Manila Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminated [11]
Taiwan Beigan Beigan Airport
Chiayi Chiayi Airport
Hengchun Hengchun Airport Terminated [12]
Kaohsiung Kaohsiung International Airport Focus city
Kinmen Kinmen Airport
Magong Penghu Airport
Nangan Nangan Airport
Pingtung Pingtung Airport Terminated [13]
Taichung Taichung International Airport Focus city
Tainan Tainan Airport
Taipei Songshan Airport Hub
Taoyuan International Airport
Taitung Taitung Airport
South Korea Seoul Incheon International Airport Terminated [14]
Vietnam Ho Chi Minh City Tan Son Nhat International Airport

Codeshare agreements

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UNI Air has codeshare agreements with the following airlines:[15]

Fleet

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UNI Air ATR 72-600
 
A former UNI Air McDonnell Douglas MD-90-30 in 2001.

Current fleet

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As of September 2024, UNI Air operates the following aircraft:[16][needs update]

UNI Air Fleet
Aircraft In Service Orders Passengers Notes
J Y Total
ATR 72-600 14 70 70
Total 14

Former fleet

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In the past, UNI Air has previously operated the following aircraft types:[17]

Accidents and incidents

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  • On 24 August 1999, UNI Air Flight 873, a McDonnell Douglas MD-90, landed at Hualien Airport and was rolling on Runway 21, when an explosion was heard in the front section of the passenger cabin, followed by smoke and then fire. The pilot immediately braked, brought the aircraft to a stop on the runway. Then, after deploying the evacuation slides and initiating an emergency passenger evacuation, the pilot proceeded to call the tower for help. Upon receiving this call, fire squads at both the Hualien Airport and the Air Force Wing rushed to the scene to extinguish the fire. The fire was eventually put out at 13:45. While the upper part of the fuselage was completely destroyed, 90 passengers plus the crew of 6 were safely evacuated. 14 passengers were seriously injured, and another 14 suffered minor injuries. Most of the injured passengers suffered burns. There was eventually one death. Fragments produced by the explosion struck 1 passenger.[18]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "StarLux Airlines chairman takes over leadership at Taiwan's Uni Air | Taiwan News | 2022-04-14 13:58:00". 14 April 2022.
  2. ^ "Directory: World Airlines." Flight International. March 30–5 April 2004. 88. "7F, 100 Sec 2, Chang-An E. Road, Taipei, 104, Taiwan"
  3. ^ 關於立榮航空. UNI Air. 3 January 2008. Archived from the original on 3 January 2008. Retrieved 15 March 2010. 台北市(104)中山區長安東路二段100號8F
  4. ^ "The Airline Codes Website". Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  5. ^ "Orient Aviation - UNI Airways flights to Japan". Archived from the original on April 22, 2008. Retrieved Mar 8, 2020.
  6. ^ "Route maps". Uni Air.
  7. ^ 黄山机场2016年夏秋季始发航班时刻表. Huangshan Tunxi International Airport. Retrieved 2016-05-07.
  8. ^ "UNI Air Adds New Taiwan – China Routes in March 2016". Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  9. ^ "Wuxi Enhances International/Regional Links from late-April 2016". airlineroute. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
  10. ^ 苏南机场2016夏秋季航班时刻表. Sunan Shuofang International Airport. Retrieved 2016-04-13.
  11. ^ "B7278 UNI Air Flight Status: Manila MNL to Taipei TPE". airportia.com. 17 October 2019. Retrieved 18 October 2019.
  12. ^ "UNI Air ends Hengchun service in late-May 2019". Routesonline. Retrieved Mar 8, 2020.
  13. ^ 屏東航站將關閉 8月中停飛 (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Yahoo Taiwan. 26 July 2011. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
  14. ^ "UNI Air Adds Taichung - Seoul Service from July 2015". Airlineroute.net. 11 May 2015. Retrieved 11 May 2015.
  15. ^ "Profile on Uni Airways". CAPA. Centre for Aviation. Archived from the original on 2016-10-31. Retrieved 2016-10-31.
  16. ^ "Global Airline Guide 2016 (Part Two)", Airliner World, November 2016, p.33
  17. ^ 關於立榮航空-機隊介紹. Archived from the original on 25 March 2016. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  18. ^ "Cabin explosion and fire during landing roll at Hua-Lien, Taiwan, involving a MD-90-30 on 24 August 2000" (Archive). Aviation Safety Council.
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