Uni Air

Uni Air, also known as UNI Airways, is a Taiwanese regional airline headquartered in Taipei. Its principal business is scheduled passenger transportation on domestic routes within Taiwan, supplemented by selected international and cross-strait services and charter operations. The carrier operates under the IATA code B7, the ICAO code UIA, and the callsign “Glory.” Its network and fleet profile are designed for regional connectivity rather than long-haul flying, linking Taiwan’s major urban centers with outlying islands and smaller airports. The airline’s corporate history is rooted in Makung International Airlines, a carrier associated with services to Taiwan’s Penghu Islands. The predecessor was known as Makung International Airlines until 1996, when EVA Air acquired a majority interest. This change brought the airline into the orbit of the Evergreen Group and aligned it with Taiwan’s largest international airline group. In 1998, Makung International Airlines was combined with Great China Airlines and Taiwan Airways, two other carriers in which EVA Air had interests. The consolidated company adopted the UNI Airways name and became known commercially as Uni Air. Uni Air’s operating model has historically complemented EVA Air’s mainline network. It has served routes that require smaller aircraft and has provided regional capacity in markets where a large wide-body or narrow-body mainline aircraft would be unsuitable. At different times, the airline has operated both business-class and economy-class cabins on selected services. Business-class passengers have been eligible to use EVA Air’s Evergreen Lounges, illustrating the brand’s integration with the wider EVA Air passenger proposition. The fleet has changed substantially over time. The predecessor airline operated BAe 146 jet aircraft, but those aircraft were sold as the Uni Air structure was created. The post-merger carrier later used McDonnell Douglas MD-90 aircraft and Bombardier Dash 8 Q300 turboprops, while ATR 72-600 aircraft became important to its regional operation. Some aircraft associated with Uni Air have also been repainted or operated for EVA Air during periods of excess capacity, demonstrating the practical relationship between the two carriers. Although domestic Taiwan flying remains its central role, Uni Air has also developed an international presence. The airline received permission in 2007 to begin services to Japan and has operated or announced services involving destinations such as Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, and Seoul. It has also operated charter services from Kaohsiung to destinations including Surabaya and Jeju. The exact route portfolio changes over time in response to regulatory approvals, demand, aircraft availability, and the broader strategies of EVA Air and the Evergreen Group. In 2012, Uni Air introduced a revised visual identity, including a new livery and updated tail and logo treatment. The refresh was applied to aircraft types including the MD-90, Q300, and newly delivered ATR 72-600. In the Taiwan domestic market, the airline has been described as holding the largest market share in recent years. Its continuing relevance comes from its role as a regional operator, its access to Evergreen Group resources, and its ability to connect Taiwan’s main island with island communities and secondary airports.

Uni Air developed from Makung International Airlines, a Taiwanese regional carrier whose name reflected its historical association with Penghu, also known as the Pescadores or Makung Islands. Before the formation of Uni Air, Makung International Airlines operated regional services and used BAe 146 jet aircraft. The carrier’s eventual integration into EVA Air’s corporate sphere was the decisive step in the creation of the modern brand. In 1996, EVA Air acquired a majority share in Makung International Airlines. This transaction connected the regional carrier with EVA Air and the broader Evergreen Group, while giving the group a way to participate more directly in Taiwan’s domestic and short-haul aviation markets. Regional operations could complement EVA Air’s international network by serving smaller airports and routes that did not require the capacity or range of the mainline fleet. The corporate consolidation continued in 1998. Makung International Airlines merged with Great China Airlines and Taiwan Airways, both of which were also associated with EVA Air interests. The merged airline was named UNI Airways, generally written in English as Uni Air. The merger brought together several Taiwanese domestic operators under a single regional platform and established the brand’s long-term role within the EVA Air family. Following the merger, Uni Air operated a mixed regional fleet. McDonnell Douglas MD-90 aircraft provided jet capacity, while Bombardier Q300 turboprops supported shorter regional routes. The company later introduced ATR 72-600 aircraft, which became important for domestic services and airport pairs where turboprop economics and runway performance were advantageous. Some aircraft connected with Uni Air were at times repainted or operated for EVA Air during periods of excess capacity, reflecting the carriers’ close operational relationship. Uni Air’s service proposition has included two-class arrangements, with business and economy cabins on applicable flights. Eligible business-class travelers have had access to EVA Air Evergreen Lounges, linking the regional carrier’s passenger experience to the mainline airline’s loyalty and airport-service infrastructure. The airline uses B7 as its IATA designator, UIA as its ICAO code, and “Glory” as its radiotelephony callsign. The airline’s core market has remained Taiwan’s domestic network. Uni Air has served routes connecting major Taiwanese cities with outlying islands and regional airports, and it has been described as holding the largest share of Taiwan’s domestic market in recent years. Its role is particularly associated with maintaining air links where road or rail alternatives are unavailable or impractical. Uni Air has also pursued international and cross-strait flying. In 2007, it received permission to begin services to Japan. Its international and regional operations have included destinations such as Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, and Seoul, while charter activity has included routes from Kaohsiung to Surabaya and Jeju. Such services have varied according to market conditions, approvals, and fleet availability. In 2012, Uni Air refreshed its public identity by introducing a new livery and updated tail and logo design. The change was visible across MD-90, Q300, and ATR 72-600 aircraft. The brand has continued as an active regional affiliate of EVA Air and the Evergreen Group, with its business centered on domestic Taiwan connectivity and selected nearby international markets.

• 2021

  Flight 9091 runway incident at Nangan

  [1]Uni Airen.wikipedia.org

  An ATR 72-600 struck the airport perimeter wall and runway infrastructure during a late go-around in fog; the aircraft returned safely and there were no injuries.

• 2012

  Visual identity refresh

  [1]Uni Airen.wikipedia.org

  The airline introduced a new livery and revised tail and logo treatment across several aircraft types.

• 2007

  Permission to begin flights to Japan

  [1]Uni Airen.wikipedia.org

  Uni Air received authorization to expand its international operations with services to Japan.

• 1998

  Formation of UNI Airways

  [1]Uni Airen.wikipedia.org

  Makung International Airlines merged with Great China Airlines and Taiwan Airways, creating the carrier known as UNI Airways or Uni Air.

• 1996

  EVA Air acquired a majority interest in Makung International Airlines

  [1]Uni Airen.wikipedia.org

  The acquisition brought the Taiwanese regional carrier into EVA Air’s corporate sphere and laid the groundwork for its later consolidation with other affiliated airlines.

A Taiwan-focused regional airline positioned around domestic connectivity, island and secondary-airport access, and operational integration with EVA Air and the Evergreen Group.

• Airline service

  Domestic scheduled passenger services

  Uni Air’s principal offering is scheduled domestic air transportation within Taiwan. The network has emphasized connections between Taiwan’s major cities and outlying islands or smaller regional airports, providing an air-link option where surface transport is limited. The service has typically been operated with regional aircraft suited to relatively short sectors and variable airport infrastructure.

• Airline service · 2007

  Regional international services

  In addition to its domestic role, Uni Air has operated selected international and cross-strait routes. Destinations mentioned in reference material include Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, and Seoul, while the carrier received permission to begin flights to Japan in 2007. International schedules are subject to regulatory permissions, demand, and fleet availability.

• Airline service

  Charter flights

  Uni Air has also operated charter services, including flights from Kaohsiung to Surabaya and Jeju. Charter operations allow the airline to serve seasonal, leisure, or specially organized demand beyond its regular scheduled network. The availability and destinations of such flights can change over time.

• Passenger cabin product

  Business-class and economy-class service

  Uni Air has operated two-class services on applicable routes, combining business-class and economy seating. Business-class passengers have had access to EVA Air’s Evergreen Lounges, connecting the regional airline’s airport experience with the facilities of its sister carrier.

• 2012Uni Air livery and tail-logo refresh

  Taiwan · Regional international markets

  Uni Air introduced a revised aircraft livery together with updated tail and logo graphics. The refresh was applied to MD-90, Q300, and ATR 72-600 aircraft and represented a visible modernization of the airline’s brand identity.

  Outcome. The updated identity became visible across multiple aircraft types and reinforced Uni Air’s association with the EVA Air and Evergreen Group aviation network.

  Source

• 2012

  Adoption of a revised visual identityStrategy

  Background

  Uni Air was operating a mixed fleet that included MD-90, Q300, and ATR 72-600 aircraft and remained closely linked with EVA Air.

  Action taken

  The airline introduced a new livery and updated tail and logo design across its aircraft.

  Aftermath

  The refresh modernized the public presentation of the regional brand without changing its core domestic and short-haul operating role.

  Source

• 1998

  Merger creating Uni AirM&A

  Background

  EVA Air had interests in Makung International Airlines, Great China Airlines, and Taiwan Airways, creating an opportunity to consolidate affiliated regional carriers.

  Action taken

  Makung International Airlines merged with Great China Airlines and Taiwan Airways, forming UNI Airways, commonly called Uni Air.

  Aftermath

  The merger created a unified regional airline platform that became a significant participant in Taiwan’s domestic aviation market.

  Source

• 1996

  EVA Air majority acquisition of Makung International AirlinesM&A

  Background

  Makung International Airlines was an established Taiwanese regional operator, while EVA Air was expanding its position in Taiwan’s aviation market and building a broader group structure.

  Action taken

  EVA Air acquired a majority share in Makung International Airlines, bringing the carrier into its corporate network.

  Aftermath

  The transaction preceded the 1998 consolidation that created Uni Air and established the airline’s continuing relationship with EVA Air and Evergreen Group.

  Source

• 2021

  Uni Air Flight 9091 runway and perimeter-wall incident[1]Uni Airen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  An ATR 72-600 operating Flight 9091 clipped the main landing gear and tail skid on the perimeter wall at Nangan Airport after the pilots initiated a late go-around in fog. The aircraft returned to Songshan Airport without injuries, while the aircraft and runway sustained damage. The investigation attributed the event to loss of situational awareness and failure to conduct an immediate go-around after the runway was no longer visible.

• 2012

  Uni Air introduced a revised livery and tail identity[1]Uni Airen.wikipedia.org

  Campaign · Other

  The airline unveiled an updated visual identity and applied the revised livery and tail treatment to aircraft including the McDonnell Douglas MD-90, Bombardier Q300, and ATR 72-600.

• 1999

  Uni Air Flight 873 accident at Hualien Airport[1]Uni Airen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  A Uni Air McDonnell Douglas MD-90 suffered an explosion and fire in the forward passenger-cabin area while taxiing after landing at Hualien Airport. The aircraft was evacuated, with passengers and crew escaping, although numerous people were injured and one passenger subsequently died from injuries caused by explosion fragments.

1. 1Uni Airen.wikipedia.org