Access selected deals available with budget and full-service airlines
Lock any airfare that sounds great. You don’t lose anything if you cancel it
Call us anytime for any assistance. We do not go into hibernation
Your personal and financial information stays secure with us
United Airlines, officially United Airlines, Inc., is a major U.S. airline and one of the world’s largest carriers, renowned for its extensive global network and commitment to connecting people across continents. Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, United operates from eight primary U.S. hubs: Chicago O’Hare (ORD), Denver (DEN), Houston (IAH), Los Angeles (LAX), New York/Newark (EWR), San Francisco (SFO), Washington, D.C. (IAD), and Guam (GUM). As a founding member of the Star Alliance since 1997, United serves over 340 destinations across six continents, offering seamless connectivity through its mainline operations and regional United Express partners. With a fleet of over 1,000 aircraft and a mission of “Connecting People. Uniting the World,” United emphasizes customer service, sustainability, and innovation, as reflected in its “Good Leads The Way” campaign.
United Airlines traces its roots to 1926, when Varney Air Lines, founded by Walter Varney, began as a mail carrier. In 1931, United Air Lines was formed through the merger of Varney, Boeing Air Transport, Pacific Air Transport, and National Air Transport under the United Aircraft and Transport Corporation. The Air Mail Act of 1934 forced the separation of airline and manufacturing operations, establishing United Airlines, Inc. as an independent carrier. Under President William A. Patterson (1934–1966), United pioneered innovations like employing the world’s first stewardesses in 1930 and introducing the Boeing 247, enabling non-stop transcontinental flights by 1933.
Post-World War II, United expanded rapidly, merging with Capital Airlines in 1961 to briefly become the world’s second-largest airline. The airline championed deregulation in the 1970s, acquiring Pan Am’s Pacific routes (1985), London Heathrow operations (1991), and Latin America/Caribbean networks (1992). United co-founded the Star Alliance in 1997, enhancing global connectivity. Despite challenges, including the tragic loss of two aircraft in the September 11, 2001 attacks and a 2002 bankruptcy filing, United rebounded through a 2010 merger with Continental Airlines, creating one of the world’s largest airlines. In 2023, United carried 165 million passengers, reporting $53.7 billion in revenue. As of May 2025, United Airlines Holdings, Inc., its parent company, is publicly traded on Nasdaq (UAL) with a market capitalization exceeding $35 billion.
United operates the world’s largest mainline fleet, with 1,034 aircraft as of May 2025, averaging 15.6 years in age. The fleet comprises a mix of Airbus and Boeing narrow-body and Boeing wide-body aircraft, with more wide-bodies than any other North American carrier. Key aircraft include:
United’s “United Next” strategy, launched during the COVID-19 pandemic, focuses on fleet modernization, with orders for over 500 narrow-body and 150 Boeing 787 Dreamliners since 2021. The airline also has options for innovative aircraft, including 100 eVTOLs from Archer Aviation, 200 from Eve Air Mobility, and 15 Boom Overture supersonic jets. United retained its wide-body fleet during the pandemic, enabling it to meet surging international demand post-recovery. Regional United Express carriers operate over 400 aircraft, including CRJ and Embraer models, feeding mainline hubs.