United Airlines, Inc., is a major American airline. Its revenue, number of employees, and number of aircraft rank it near the top of the world’s largest airlines. United flies to more than 300 destinations in about 70 countries and operates from 8 major hub cities in the continental United States and Guam. The company’s headquarters are in Chicago.
Walter T. Varney, a flight instructor, founded a company in 1926 that eventually became United Airlines. Varney Air Lines began as an airmail service in Boise, Idaho. Walter Varney also founded Varney Speed Lines, which became Continental Airlines. American industrialist William Boeing purchased Varney Air Lines and several other aviation companies and incorporated the group as United Air Lines in 1931.
United aided the United States and its allies during World War II (1939-1945) by modifying aircraft for military use. The carrier flew mail, passengers, and cargo to help support the U.S. war effort. Following a merger with Capital Airlines in 1961, United became the country’s leading airline. In 1974, the company changed its name from United Air Lines to United Airlines.
In the 1990’s, United turned most of its stock over to its employees. (Investors buy shares of stock in public companies. Shares represent portions of ownership of a company.) The carrier then became the world’s largest company run by employees. In 1997, United cofounded the Star Alliance, an international partnership of airlines. The member airlines share facilities and coordinate frequent-flyer programs, reservations, and schedules.
In 2002, United filed for bankruptcy protection in one of the largest bankruptcy filings in the United States. Bankruptcy occurs when a company does not have enough money to pay suppliers and creditors (those who have loaned it money). The company emerged from bankruptcy in 2006.
United merged with Continental Airlines in 2010. The combined airline was named United Airlines, Inc., in 2013 but adopted the logo and livery (color scheme and markings) of Continental. The combined airline is owned by United Airlines Holdings, Inc.
See also Aviation (Airline operations).
