Final Flight Included Stops At Every United Hub

After a career that spanned 41 years, United Airlines has officially retired the last of it's B737's after a final flight from Dulles Airport near Washington, DC to San Francisco. The final flight landed at every United hub in the U.S.

File Photo

United first began flying the medium-range airliner in 1968, and the Chicago Tribune reports the airline was a key player in making the jet the best selling airliner of all time. But the airline grounded the planes last year as a cost-saving measure, and Wednesday's flight marked the official retirement of the plane from service with United.

The paper reports United eventually bought 233 of the narrow-body aircraft, but decided to continue flying the newer Airbus A320's when cuts had to be made.

Along with the fleet of 737's, United is also grounding six 747's and has furloughed 1,450 pilots as a cost-savings measure.

While United will no longer be flying the 737, Boeing continues to sell the airliner around the world, with more than 6,000 orders over the aircraft's lifespan to date.

FMI: www.ual.com