Uni Air
UNI Airways is a Taiwanese regional airline based in Zhongshan, Taipei, Taiwan. 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 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.
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. Also chartered flights to Surabaya and Jeju from Kaohsiung. UNI Air's destinations are:| Country | City | Airport | Notes | Refs |
| China | Chongqing | Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport | ||
| China | Dalian | Dalian Zhoushuizi International Airport | ||
| China | Fuzhou | Fuzhou Changle International Airport | ||
| China | Hangzhou | Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport | ||
| China | Huangshan | Huangshan Tunxi International Airport | ||
| China | Nanjing | Nanjing Lukou International Airport | ||
| China | Ningbo | Ningbo Lishe International Airport | ||
| China | Qingdao | Qingdao Jiaodong International Airport | ||
| China | Qingdao | Qingdao Liuting International Airport | ||
| China | Shenyang | Shenyang Taoxian International Airport | ||
| China | Shenzhen | Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport | ||
| China | Wuxi | Wuxi Shuofang Airport | ||
| China | Xiamen | Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport | ||
| Malaysia | Kota Kinabalu | Kota Kinabalu International Airport | ||
| Philippines | Manila | Ninoy Aquino International Airport | ||
| Taiwan | Beigan | Beigan Airport | ||
| Taiwan | Chiayi | Chiayi Airport | ||
| Taiwan | Hengchun | Hengchun Airport | ||
| Taiwan | Kaohsiung | Kaohsiung International Airport | ||
| Taiwan | Kinmen | Kinmen Airport | ||
| Taiwan | Magong | Penghu Airport | ||
| Taiwan | Nangan | Nangan Airport | ||
| Taiwan | Pingtung | Pingtung Airport | ||
| Taiwan | Taichung | Taichung International Airport | ||
| Taiwan | Tainan | Tainan Airport | ||
| Taiwan | Taipei | Songshan Airport | ||
| Taiwan | Taipei | Taoyuan International Airport | ||
| Taiwan | Taitung | Taitung Airport | ||
| South Korea | Seoul | Incheon International Airport | ||
| Vietnam | Ho Chi Minh City | Tan 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
Current fleet
, Uni Air operates the following aircraft:Former fleet
UNI Air has previously operated the following aircraft types:| Aircraft | Total | Introduced | Retired | Notes |
| Airbus A321-200 | 2 | 2015 | 2022 | |
| Boeing 757-200 | 1 | 1995 | 1996 | |
| BAe 146-300 | 5 | 1990 | 1999 | |
| De Havilland Canada Dash 8-100 | 4 | 1988 | 1996 | |
| De Havilland Canada Dash 8-200 | 1 | 1991 | 2009 | |
| De Havilland Canada Dash 8-300 | 2 | 1991 | 1997 | Sold to Eastern Australia Airlines and De Havilland Canada. |
| De Havilland Canada Dash 8-300 | 12 | 1993 | 2014 | |
| De Havilland Canada Dash 8-300 | 1 | 2001 | 2014 | Sold to Hawker Pacific. |
| McDonnell Douglas MD-90-30 | 14 | 1996 | 2016 | One 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 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 due to fragments produced by the explosion striking 1 passenger.
- 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.