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Headquarters: Website: http://www.unitedcontinentalholdings.com United Airlines and United Express operate nearly 5,000 flights a day to 342 airports across six continents. In 2015, United and United Express operated nearly two million flights carrying 140 million customers. United Continental Holdings, the parent company of United, was formed by the merger of United Airlines and Continental Airlines in October 2010. The Continental name was phased out in 2012. The company has headquarters in the Willis Tower in Chicago. United is a founding member of Star Alliance, which provides service to 192 countries via 28 member airlines. United has hub cities in Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, New York/Newark, San Francisco, Washington Dulles, Guam and Tokyo. United operates more than 700 mainline aircraft and has made large-scale investments in its fleet. UAL announced in January it would take delivery of 40 new Boeing 737-700 aircraft, which will enter the fleet beginning in mid-2017. These aircraft will replace a portion of the capacity currently operated by the company's regional partners, as the company expects to reduce by more than half the number of 50-seat aircraft in its fleet by 2019. In 2015, the company reported revenues of $37.8 billion, down 2.7% from the previous year, and net income of $7.3 billion. The entire company served 140.3 million passengers in 2015, up 1.7%. Passenger load factor was 83.4% in 2015, down 0.2% from the previous year. The company paid an average of $1.94 per gallon for jet fuel in 2015, down 35.1% from 2014. Employees of the company earned $698 million in profit sharing for 2015. Jeff Smisek resigned as CEO of United on September 8, 2015. History Walter Varney launched air mail service over a desolate stretch of terrain between Pasco, WA, and Elko, NV, on April 6, 1926. That auspicious day marked the true beginning of commercial air transportation in the United States. Because Varney was a predecessor of United, it also marked the birth of United Airlines. United would play an important role in World War II by transporting soldiers and equipment across the Pacific and to Alaska. In 1947, United launches the Douglas DC-6, the first postwar aircraft, featuring innovative full-cabin pressurization. U.S. coast-to-coast travel time is reduced to 10 hours. The same year, United inaugurates service to the Hawaiian Islands with its first flight from San Francisco to Honolulu. UAL, Inc., incorporated December 30, 1968 as a holding company with United a wholly owned subsidiary. On Jan. 5, 1990, the company received U.S. government approval to serve Paris from Chicago and Washington, D.C., and, soon after, launched Newark-Tokyo service. The airline lost two planes in the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Business dropped sharply after the attacks and the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 2002. United emerged from bankruptcy in 2006. In May 2010, United and Continental announced plans to merge. The deal was completed in October 2010. In 2013, United became the first U.S.-based international carrier to offer satellite-based Wi-Fi on long-haul overseas routes. The airline also features DIRECTV on many aircraft, offering customers more live television access than any other airline. Benefits Full- and part-time employees are eligible for the following: - Medical, Dental and Vision Coverage Updated January 21, 2016 |