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Ted (airline)
Encyclopedia
Ted was one of two "airline
within an airline" divisional brands of United Airlines
. It targeted vacation locations. Ted targeted to compete in the low cost airline market. In contrast to United's high end divisional "sub-fleeted" brand called United p.s.
, "Ted" comes from the last three letters in the United brand name. United marketed Ted anthropomorphically and attempted to personify Ted; it used phrases such as Meet Ted or I've Met Ted.
Due to the airline crisis caused by spiking fuel prices, on June 4, 2008, United announced that the Ted brand and services would be discontinued with the Ted aircraft being fitted with United's First Class cabin and eventually being incorporated into United's regular fleet to compensate for the removal of United's entire 737
fleet. Operations were folded back into the mainline brand on January 6, 2009.
, a United hub, to compete with Frontier Airlines
. The airline was equipped with 57 Airbus A320
aircraft, in a 156-seat all-economy configuration. This gave United a way to compete with low-cost airlines, such as Frontier Airlines
. All Ted flights were operated by United Airlines crew flying under the United Airlines operating certificate
, as Ted was not actually a certificated airline, but rather a brand name applied to differentiate the all-economy service from United's mainline flights. Sometimes, because of operational needs, Ted aircraft operated as mainline United flights. More often, however, mainline United aircraft operated as Ted flights because of equipment substitutions.
, Ted flew to 23 destinations throughout Mexico
and the United States, including Puerto Rico
. Ted's primary hub was at Denver International Airport
, and the airline maintained focus cities at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport
, San Francisco International Airport
, and Washington Dulles International Airport
. Ted ended all services on January 6, 2009 and were transferred to UA mainline.
United Airlines had 57 aircraft in its fleet dedicated to Ted operations:
As of September 2008, Ted's average fleet age was 8.7 years old.
(channel 9), at the pilot's discretion, a feature that is still available on all mainline United flights.
Airline
An airline provides air transport services for traveling passengers and freight. Airlines lease or own their aircraft with which to supply these services and may form partnerships or alliances with other airlines for mutual benefit...
within an airline" divisional brands of United Airlines
United Airlines
United Air Lines, Inc., is the world's largest airline with 86,852 employees United Air Lines, Inc., is the world's largest airline with 86,852 employees United Air Lines, Inc., is the world's largest airline with 86,852 employees (which includes the entire holding company United Continental...
. It targeted vacation locations. Ted targeted to compete in the low cost airline market. In contrast to United's high end divisional "sub-fleeted" brand called United p.s.
United p.s.
United p.s. is a premium service offered by United Airlines on flights between John F. Kennedy International Airport and San Francisco International Airport or Los Angeles International Airport. The fleet consists of specially configured Boeing 757-200 aircraft with three classes of service: United...
, "Ted" comes from the last three letters in the United brand name. United marketed Ted anthropomorphically and attempted to personify Ted; it used phrases such as Meet Ted or I've Met Ted.
Due to the airline crisis caused by spiking fuel prices, on June 4, 2008, United announced that the Ted brand and services would be discontinued with the Ted aircraft being fitted with United's First Class cabin and eventually being incorporated into United's regular fleet to compensate for the removal of United's entire 737
Boeing 737
The Boeing 737 is a short- to medium-range, twin-engine narrow-body jet airliner. Originally developed as a shorter, lower-cost twin-engine airliner derived from Boeing's 707 and 727, the 737 has developed into a family of nine passenger models with a capacity of 85 to 215 passengers...
fleet. Operations were folded back into the mainline brand on January 6, 2009.
History
Ted's creation was announced November 12, 2003, and service began on February 12, 2004. It began service in DenverDenver International Airport
Denver International Airport , often referred to as DIA, is an airport in Denver, Colorado. By land size, at , it is the largest international airport in the United States, and the third largest international airport in the world after King Fahd International Airport and Montréal-Mirabel...
, a United hub, to compete with Frontier Airlines
Frontier Airlines
Frontier Airlines, Inc., is an American airline headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. The carrier, which is a subsidiary and operating brand of Republic Airways Holdings, operates flights to 83 destinations throughout the United States, Mexico, and Costa Rica and maintains hubs at...
. The airline was equipped with 57 Airbus A320
Airbus A320
The Airbus A320 family is a family of short- to medium-range, narrow-body, commercial passenger jet airliners manufactured by Airbus Industrie.Airbus was originally a consortium of European aerospace companies, and is now fully owned by EADS. Airbus's name has been Airbus SAS since 2001...
aircraft, in a 156-seat all-economy configuration. This gave United a way to compete with low-cost airlines, such as Frontier Airlines
Frontier Airlines
Frontier Airlines, Inc., is an American airline headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. The carrier, which is a subsidiary and operating brand of Republic Airways Holdings, operates flights to 83 destinations throughout the United States, Mexico, and Costa Rica and maintains hubs at...
. All Ted flights were operated by United Airlines crew flying under the United Airlines operating certificate
Operating certificate
Operating certificate is a category of license issued by a government agency allowing an individual or company to provide a controlled type of service. These certificates are generally issued for a limited time period...
, as Ted was not actually a certificated airline, but rather a brand name applied to differentiate the all-economy service from United's mainline flights. Sometimes, because of operational needs, Ted aircraft operated as mainline United flights. More often, however, mainline United aircraft operated as Ted flights because of equipment substitutions.
Destinations
At the time of its integration back into United AirlinesUnited Airlines
United Air Lines, Inc., is the world's largest airline with 86,852 employees United Air Lines, Inc., is the world's largest airline with 86,852 employees United Air Lines, Inc., is the world's largest airline with 86,852 employees (which includes the entire holding company United Continental...
, Ted flew to 23 destinations throughout Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
and the United States, including Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
. Ted's primary hub was at Denver International Airport
Denver International Airport
Denver International Airport , often referred to as DIA, is an airport in Denver, Colorado. By land size, at , it is the largest international airport in the United States, and the third largest international airport in the world after King Fahd International Airport and Montréal-Mirabel...
, and the airline maintained focus cities at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport
O'Hare International Airport
Chicago O'Hare International Airport , also known as O'Hare Airport, O'Hare Field, Chicago Airport, Chicago International Airport, or simply O'Hare, is a major airport located in the northwestern-most corner of Chicago, Illinois, United States, northwest of the Chicago Loop...
, San Francisco International Airport
San Francisco International Airport
San Francisco International Airport is a major international airport located south of downtown San Francisco, California, United States, near the cities of Millbrae and San Bruno in unincorporated San Mateo County. It is often referred to as SFO...
, and Washington Dulles International Airport
Washington Dulles International Airport
Washington Dulles International Airport is a public airport in Dulles, Virginia, 26 miles west of downtown Washington, D.C. The airport serves the Baltimore-Washington-Northern Virginia metropolitan area centered on the District of Columbia. It is named after John Foster Dulles, Secretary of...
. Ted ended all services on January 6, 2009 and were transferred to UA mainline.
Fleet
| Aircraft | Total | Passengers | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airbus A320-200 | 57 | 156 | Offered Economy Plus and Economy Class |
As of September 2008, Ted's average fleet age was 8.7 years old.
Cabin
Ted's A320s were configured in 1 class that was split into 2 sub-classes. Economy Plus was the first sub-class which included rows 1-11. Economy Plus provided an extra 5 inches to the existing 31 inches of seat pitch for economy. Ted planes were equipped with 20 overhead retractable LCD screens known as "Tedevision" which were used to play videos throughout the flight. First class seating was not available on Ted flights. On every Ted seat there was TedTunes which had 12 music stations including a station that played live feed from Air Traffic ControlAir traffic control
Air traffic control is a service provided by ground-based controllers who direct aircraft on the ground and in the air. The primary purpose of ATC systems worldwide is to separate aircraft to prevent collisions, to organize and expedite the flow of traffic, and to provide information and other...
(channel 9), at the pilot's discretion, a feature that is still available on all mainline United flights.
See also
- Air Canada TangoAir Canada TangoAir Canada Tango was a low-cost branch of Air Canada, which was established in 2001 to offer no-frills service on some of Air Canada's routes and to reduce operating costs at the struggling main company...
a low-cost no-frills service offered by Air CanadaAir CanadaAir Canada is the flag carrier and largest airline of Canada. The airline, founded in 1936, provides scheduled and charter air transport for passengers and cargo to 178 destinations worldwide. It is the world's tenth largest passenger airline by number of destinations, and the airline is a...
that operated from 2001 to 2004 - Delta ExpressDelta ExpressDelta Express was a no-frills "airline within an airline" brand owned and operated by Delta Air Lines from 1996 to 2003. The airline was headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia....
a low-cost subsidiary of Delta from 1996 until 2003 that preceded Song - MetroJetMetroJetMetroJet was a no-frills "airline within an airline" brand operated as a division of US Airways from 1998 to 2001.-History:After the conclusion of painstaking labor negotiations in 1997, US Airways sought to head off burgeoning competition from low-cost carriers in its strongest region, the U.S....
a low-cost subsidiary of US AirwaysUS AirwaysUS Airways, Inc. is a major airline based in the U.S. city of Tempe, Arizona. The airline is an operating unit of US Airways Group and is the sixth largest airline by traffic and eighth largest by market value in the country....
that operated from 1998 until 2001 - Shuttle by UnitedShuttle by UnitedShuttle by United was an "airline within an airline" brand operated as a subsidiary of United Airlines from 1994 to 2001 along the West Coast of the United States...
a low-cost subsidiary of UnitedUnited AirlinesUnited Air Lines, Inc., is the world's largest airline with 86,852 employees United Air Lines, Inc., is the world's largest airline with 86,852 employees United Air Lines, Inc., is the world's largest airline with 86,852 employees (which includes the entire holding company United Continental...
that operated from 1994 until 2001 and preceded Ted - SongSong (airline)Song, LLC was a low-cost "airline within an airline" brand owned and operated by Delta Air Lines.Song's main focus was on leisure traffic between the northeastern United States and Florida, a market where it competed with JetBlue Airways...
a low-cost subsidiary of Delta that operated from 2003 until 2006 that replaced Delta Express