History
After the September 11, 2001 Attacks, the airline industry generally suffered severe losses in passenger traffic. Coupled with often high legacy labor and fixed operating costs, such as the operation of relatively inefficient aircraft models (such as the Boeing 727, and Boeing 767-200) and unprofitable routes, the UAL Corporation (parent company of United) filed for bankruptcy in December 2002. Once the airline began to bounce back, United launched TED, a low cost airline, in 2003 and United p.s., a luxury service between JFK and SFO and LAX, in October 2004. The transcontinental service offers extra amenities not found on other domestic flights, as well as high frequency of departures as a flagship/signature service.
United's premium product competes with the American Flagship Service introduced by American Airlines for the U.S. domestic market in 1992.
On March 22, 2010, the Chicago Tribune reported that United Airlines would be retaining its p.s. service after the merger with Continental Airlines. A number of interior improvements such as upgrading the lie-flat beds and the cabin service are planned for the p.s. 757 fleet.
On August, 22, 2011, United Airlines announced the p.s. fleet would be gutted and "reborn" with: Flat-Bed Seats, New Economy Plus Seats, AVOD and Wi-Fi, however these changes include the elimination of United First, making p.s. a "two-plus" class service.
Read more about this topic: United P.s.
Famous quotes containing the word history:
“The thing that struck me forcefully was the feeling of great age about the place. Standing on that old parade ground, which is now a cricket field, I could feel the dead generations crowding me. Here was the oldest settlement of freedmen in the Western world, no doubt. Men who had thrown off the bands of slavery by their own courage and ingenuity. The courage and daring of the Maroons strike like a purple beam across the history of Jamaica.”
—Zora Neale Hurston (1891–1960)
“Psychology keeps trying to vindicate human nature. History keeps undermining the effort.”
—Mason Cooley (b. 1927)
“The myth of independence from the mother is abandoned in mid- life as women learn new routes around the mother—both the mother without and the mother within. A mid-life daughter may reengage with a mother or put new controls on care and set limits to love. But whatever she does, her child’s history is never finished.”
—Terri Apter (20th century)