Aircraft operated

A selected fleet history

This concise record organizes the aircraft that best explain the airline’s development. It is a historical overview, not an exhaustive fleet registry.

Early fleet

AircraftApprox. yearsRoleNotes
Douglas DC-3DC-31940s–1950sRegional passenger serviceServed the airline's early network

Jet era

AircraftApprox. yearsRoleNotes
Boeing 707707-120 / 3201959–1970sTrunk and international jetIntroduced long-range jet operations
Boeing 727727-100 / 200 · View aircraft reference →1967–1993Domestic jet serviceA major workhorse

Later fleet

AircraftApprox. yearsRoleNotes
McDonnell Douglas DC-10DC-10-10 / 301972–2001Wide-body serviceUsed domestically and internationally
Boeing 777777-200ER1998–2010Long-haul flagshipSupported global expansion

Historical significance

Continental's late-twentieth-century turnaround became a prominent airline management story, while its Newark and Houston operations became enduring pillars of the combined United network.

Related airline histories

Airline fleet historyPan American World AirwaysExplore →Airline fleet historyJetBlue AirwaysExplore →

Sources and further reading

Fleet years are approximate where aircraft entered or left service gradually.