UNITED AIRLINES unveiled an Airbus A320 painted in the airlines 1970s 'Friend Ship' livery to mark its 85th anniversary.
Hundreds of employees gathered at the celebration at Chicago O'Hare International airport on April 6, where the retro emblazoned aircraft took-off to the skies.
The airline's celebrations continued throughout the week as the Friend Ship jetliner visited other United and Continental hub airports including Denver, San Francisco, and Houston's Bush Intercontinental airport.
Jack Lampe, a 51-year veteran of United and Capital Airlines, which merged with United in 1961, said: "The heart of my experience at United has been working with the people who make this airline great.
"We can be proud of our accomplishments and the service we've delivered for the past 85 years."
Last fall, United employees selected the Friend Ship, which features stripes of deep red and sky blue and a regal star pattern, from United's historical liveries.
Jeff Smisek, United's president and chief executive officer, said: "We are proud to celebrate United's 85th anniversary with the more than 85,000 co-workers and thousands of retirees who have built the world's leading airline."
United's services began in 1926, with a small Swallow biplane which made its first airmail delivery landing to crowds in Nevada.
Owned by Walter Varney who was among the first to recognise air travels business potential he founded Varney Air Service.
He later sold the company to United Aircraft and Transport, which changed its name to United Air Lines in 1933, and in 1934, Varney and business partner Louis Mueller founded Varney Speed Lines, which was sold and renamed Continental Airlines in 1937.
In the present day, United and Continental's merger in May 2010 has seen the two become one, as the world's leading airline.
UNITED: THEN AND NOW
In 1926, fewer than 6,000 Americans paid to travel by plane.
Passengers rode on top of mailbags wearing parachutes and goggles.
By 1930, about 170,000 paying passengers took to the sky each year.
Boeing's tri-motored Model 80 carried up to 18 people in an enclosed cabin.
In 1936, people flew coast to coast, allowing 20 hours for the trip, and bought tickets at the door of the plane.
Today, the new United flies more than 150 million customers each year, equal to about half the population of the U.S., and travelers can book flights from virtually anywhere.
United's largest aircraft, the 747-400, seats 374 travelers in modern comfort, offering flat-bed seats, personal inflight entertainment, hot meals and world-class service.
The new United route network provides access to destinations on six continents and nonstop or one-stop service from virtually anywhere in the US.
United takes to the sky with 5,675 daily departures from nearly 375 airports.
