UNI Airways () is a Taiwanese regional airline based in Zhongshan, Taipei, Taiwan."Directory: World Airlines." Flight International. March 30–5 April 2004. 88. "7F, 100 Sec 2, Chang-An E. Road, Taipei, 104, Taiwan" With an operational 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 International Airlines () until 1996, when EVA Air took a majority share of the airline. In 1998, the airline merged with Great China Airlines () and Taiwan Airways (), which EVA Air also had interests in, to form UNI Airways (UNI Air).
Overview
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. In 2012, UNI Air unveiled a new livery and tail/logo on the MD-90, the Q300 and its new ATR 72-600 aircraft.
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.
Destinations
The airline operates mainly to domestic and China destinations and scheduled international flights to Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City and Seoul. It also offers chartered flights to Surabaya and Jeju from Kaohsiung. UNI Air's destinations are:
CountryCityAirportNotesRefsChinaChongqingChongqing Jiangbei International AirportDalianDalian Zhoushuizi International Airport FuzhouFuzhou Changle International AirportHangzhouHangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport HuangshanHuangshan Tunxi International AirportNanjingNanjing Lukou International Airport NingboNingbo Lishe International AirportQingdaoQingdao Jiaodong International Airport Qingdao Liuting International AirportShenyangShenyang Taoxian International Airport ShenzhenShenzhen Bao'an International Airport WuxiWuxi Shuofang Airport XiamenXiamen Gaoqi International AirportMalaysiaKota KinabaluKota Kinabalu International AirportPhilippinesManilaNinoy Aquino International AirportTaiwanBeiganBeigan Airport ChiayiChiayi Airport HengchunHengchun AirportKaohsiungKaohsiung International AirportKinmenKinmen Airport MagongPenghu Airport NanganNangan Airport PingtungPingtung AirportTaichungTaichung International AirportTainanTainan Airport TaipeiSongshan Airport Taoyuan International Airport TaitungTaitung Airport South KoreaSeoulIncheon International AirportVietnamHo Chi Minh CityTan Son Nhat International Airport
Codeshare agreements UNI Air has codeshare agreements with the following airlines:
Air China EVA Air Shandong Airlines Shenzhen Airlines
Interline agreements UNI Air has interline agreements with the following airlines: Taiwan High Speed Rail
Fleet
Current fleet , Uni Air operates the following aircraft:
+ UNI Air fleet Aircraft In service Orders Passengers NotesJY TotalATR 72-6001419—7070Order with 3 purchase rights.Deliveries from 2027.Total1419
Former fleet UNI Air (including its predecessors Great China Airlines and Makung International Airlines) has previously operated the following aircraft types:
+UNI Air former fleetAircraftTotalIntroducedRetiredNotesAirbus A321-200220152022Boeing 757-200119951996BAe 146-300519901999De Havilland Canada Dash 8-100419881996De Havilland Canada Dash 8-200119912009De Havilland Canada Dash 8-300219911997Sold to Eastern Australia Airlines and De Havilland Canada.1219932014120012014Sold to Hawker Pacific.McDonnell Douglas MD-90-301419962016One burned as Flight 873.
Accidents and incidents On 24 August 1999, 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 fire. The pilot brought the aircraft to a stop on the runway and fire squads rushed to the scene to extinguish the fire. While the upper part of the fuselage was completely destroyed, 90 passengers plus the crew of six 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 due to fragments produced by the explosion striking one passenger."Cabin explosion and fire during landing roll at Hua-Lien, Taiwan, involving a MD-90-30 on 24 August 2000" (Archive). Aviation Safety Council. On 10 May 2021, Flight 9091, an ATR 72-600, clipped its main landing gear and tail skid on the perimeter wall at Nangan Airport after the pilots initiated a late go-around due to fog during a non-precision approach. The pilots returned to Songshan Airport, where they landed without injury, although the aircraft and runway were damaged. The cause was determined to be the pilot's loss of situational awareness during approach and not following procedure to immediately go around after losing sight of the runway.
See also List of airlines of Taiwan List of companies of Taiwan List of airports in Taiwan Transportation in Taiwan Air transport in Taiwan EVA Air Chang Yung-fa Evergreen Group
References
External links
Official website UNI Air Korea EVA Air