History of United Airlines in Timeline
United Airlines is a major U.S. airline headquartered in Chicago, operating a vast network of domestic and international routes across six continents. It boasts more destinations than any other airline and utilizes regional service through United Express to feed its eight hubs. As a founding member of the Star Alliance, United extends its reach globally through partnerships.
5 hours ago : United Airlines Flight Diverted After Windshield Cracks Mid-Air, Pilot Injured
A United Airlines flight experienced a cracked windshield mid-air, forcing an emergency descent and diversion to Salt Lake City. The pilot sustained injuries during the incident, which involved a Boeing 737 aircraft. Passengers were rerouted following the unscheduled landing.
1924: "Rhapsody in Blue" by George Gershwin
The George Gershwin song "Rhapsody in Blue" was created in 1924 and would later be used as United's theme song in 2013.
1926: Varney Air Lines Founding Date Adopted by United
In 1926, Varney Air Lines was founded, which United has adopted as its founding date.
1926: Varney Air Lines Created
In 1926, Walter Varney created Varney Air Lines, which later became part of United Airlines, making 1926 the founding year of United, the oldest commercial airline in the United States.
1931: United Air Lines Formed
In 1931, United Air Lines was formed as a subsidiary of United Aircraft and Transport Corporation to manage airlines acquired by William Boeing, including Boeing Air Transport, Pacific Air Transport, Varney Air Lines, and National Air Transport.
1933: Introduction of the Boeing 247
In 1933, United introduced the Boeing 247, the first modern airliner, enabling non-stop transcontinental travel.
1934: Air Mail Scandal Leads to Breakup
In 1934, the Air Mail scandal led to the breakup of United's parent corporation, United Aircraft and Transport Corporation.
1945: Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA) Founded
In 1945, the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA) was founded by five United Airlines flight attendants, marking the first successful unionization of flight attendants. The AFA has represented flight attendants from United Airlines since.
1961: Merger with Capital Airlines
In 1961, United merged with Capital Airlines, briefly becoming the world’s second-largest airline.
1965: "Fly the Friendly Skies" Slogan Introduced
In 1965, United replaced its earliest slogan, "The Main Line Airway", with "Fly the Friendly Skies".
1976: United Licenses "Rhapsody in Blue"
In 1976, United licensed its theme song, "Rhapsody in Blue" by George Gershwin, from Gershwin's estate for US$500,000.
1985: Acquisition of Pan Am's Pacific Route Authority
In 1985, United acquired Pan American World Airways' Pacific route authority.
1991: Acquisition of Pan Am's London Heathrow Operation
In 1991, United acquired Pan American World Airways' London Heathrow operation.
1991: Continental Airlines "globe" Identity
In 1991, the Lippincott company designed the Continental Airlines "globe" identity and livery, which United would adopt after the merger in 2010.
1992: Acquisition of Pan Am's Latin America and Caribbean Network
In 1992, United acquired Pan American World Airways' Latin America and Caribbean network out of Miami.
October 19, 1995: United Airlines Flight 976 Incident
On October 19, 1995, United Airlines Flight 976 from Buenos Aires to New York City experienced a disruptive passenger incident. A banker became disruptive and defecated on the plane and was later arrested and fined $5,000.
1996: "Fly the Friendly Skies" First Iteration Ends
In 1996, the first iteration of the "Fly the Friendly Skies" slogan was retired after having been in use since 1965.
1997: Launch of Star Alliance
In 1997, United was one of the five airlines to launch Star Alliance, the first global airline alliance.
1998: Copyright Term Extension Act
The Copyright Term Extension Act of 1998 extended the copyright of "Rhapsody in Blue" another 20 years.
2000: "Rhapsody in Blue" Copyright
In 2000, "Rhapsody in Blue" was originally set to enter the public domain, but the copyright was extended.
2004: "It's Time to Fly" Slogan Created
In 2004, United created the slogan "It's time to fly".
2007: Headquarters Move to Chicago Loop
In 2007, United moved its headquarters from Elk Grove Township to 77 West Wacker Drive in the Chicago Loop after receiving US$5.5 million in incentives from the City of Chicago.
October 2010: Merger Slogan: "Let's Fly Together"
Following the merger of United and Continental in October 2010, the slogan changed to "Let's fly together".
2010: Acceptance of Chicago's Incentive Offer
In 2010, United accepted the City of Chicago's offer of US$35 million in incentives to move its remaining employees to the Willis Tower.
2010: Merger with Continental Airlines
In 2010, United announced a merger with Continental Airlines. The combined airline retained the United name but discontinued the "tulip" logo, adopting the Continental Airlines "globe" identity and livery instead.
August 23, 2011: Conversion to Paperless Flight Decks with iPads
On August 23, 2011, United announced a conversion to paperless flight decks, providing 11,000 iPads to its pilots. This initiative replaced approximately 38 pounds of paper manuals with the less than 1.5-pound iPads, enhancing operational efficiency and safety.
November 7, 2011: First Commercial Aviation Flight on Microbial Biofuel
On November 7, 2011, United flew the world's first commercial aviation flight using microbially-derived biofuel. The Eco-Skies Boeing 737-800 aircraft was fueled with 40 percent Solajet (Solazyme's algae-derived renewable jet fuel) and 60 percent petroleum-derived jet fuel for a flight from IAH to ORD.
May 31, 2012: Opening of Operations Center in Willis Tower
On May 31, 2012, United opened its operations center in the Willis Tower, occupying twelve floors.
2012: Animal Deaths on US Airlines
Between 2012 and 2017, United accounted for one-third of animal deaths of US airlines.
2012: Fraudulent delivery scan data submitted
In 2012, United Airlines began submitting fraudulent delivery scan data to the United States Postal Service. The data made it appear that United and its partner airlines complied with International Commercial Air requirements with accurate delivery times when in fact they were automated delivery scans with aspirational delivery time. This continued until 2015, eventually leading to a fine in February 2021.
January 15, 2013: United to Use Split Scimitar Winglets
On January 15, 2013, Aviation Partners Boeing (APB) announced that United had agreed to replace the Blended Winglets on its Boeing 737NG aircraft with APB's Split Scimitar Winglets (SSW) to significantly reduce drag. This technology is estimated to save United more than $250 million annually in fuel costs.
September 2013: Return of "Fly the Friendly Skies" Slogan
In September 2013, United announced the return of the "Fly the Friendly Skies" slogan in an ad campaign, accompanied by the George Gershwin song "Rhapsody in Blue" and a voiceover by Matt Damon.
2013: Data Center Construction
In 2013, a new 172,000 sq ft data center was constructed at the former headquarters campus in Elk Grove Township, which was gradually annexed into the Village of Mount Prospect.
2013: United Bans Transport of Monkeys to Laboratories
In 2013, after pressure from PETA, United announced that it would no longer transport monkeys to laboratories. United was the last North American passenger airline to transport these animals to laboratories.
June 30, 2015: Investment in Fulcrum BioEnergy
On June 30, 2015, United invested US$30 million in Fulcrum BioEnergy, an alternative fuel company. United will collaborate with Fulcrum to develop up to five alternative fuel refineries near its U.S. hubs and purchase at least 90 million gallons per year of sustainable aviation alternative fuel for a minimum of 10 years.
July 15, 2015: Airline Miles as "Bug Bounties"
As of July 15, 2015, United had awarded airline miles as "bug bounties" to hackers who could identify gaps in the carrier's web security. Two hackers have each been rewarded with 1 million miles of air travel.
2015: United Airlines continues fraudulent delivery scan data submission
In 2015, United Airlines continued to submit fraudulent delivery scan data to the United States Postal Service, which had started in 2012. The data made it appear that United and its partner airlines complied with International Commercial Air requirements with accurate delivery times when in fact they were automated delivery scans with aspirational delivery time. This action led to a fine in February 2021.
2015: Introduction of New Domestic First-Class Seat Design
In 2015, United introduced its new domestic first-class seat design featuring leather seats, cradling headrests, granite cocktail tables, and a tablet stand. These seats debuted on Airbus A320 family aircraft and were eventually rolled out on all domestic aircraft.
March 11, 2016: First Airline to Fly on Commercial-Scale Alternative Fuels
On March 11, 2016, United became the first airline in the world to fly on commercial-scale quantities of sustainable alternative fuels on a continuous basis, procuring the fuels from AltAir Fuels. United agreed to purchase up to 15 million gallons of sustainable alternative fuel from AltAir Fuels for use in Los Angeles over a three-year period.
2016: Partnership with Clean the World
In 2016, United began partnering with Clean the World to repurpose items from the airline's international premium class amenity kits and donate hygiene products to those in need. United expected to divert 60,000 pounds of material from landfills during the first year of the partnership.
April 9, 2017: Passenger forcibly removed from United Airlines flight
On April 9, 2017, a passenger, Dr. David Dao, was forcibly removed from United Airlines flight 3411 at Chicago-O'Hare. This occurred because United needed seats for its staff on the sold-out flight. When Dr. Dao refused to leave, he was forcibly removed by security officers, sustaining injuries. The incident, recorded by other passengers, led to a public outcry and criticism of United's CEO, Oscar Munoz. United and Dr. Dao later reached an undisclosed settlement.
2017: Animal Deaths on US Airlines
Between 2012 and 2017, United accounted for one-third of animal deaths of US airlines.
2017: Expansion in Downtown Houston
In 2017, United leased 225,000 sq ft of space in downtown Houston for occupancy.
2017: Partnership with Audubon International
In 2017, United partnered with Audubon International to protect raptors—including hawks, ospreys, and owls—in and around New York-area airports and resettle them at suitable golf course habitats.
March 20, 2018: PetSafe Program Suspended
Effective March 20, 2018, United suspended the PetSafe program, ceasing new cargo transport reservations for pets. This decision followed plans to mark pet carriers in the passenger cabin with tags and the introduction of legislation banning placing pets in overhead compartments due to a dog's death.
2018: First Aircraft with Premium Plus Seats Flying
The first aircraft with Premium Plus seats were flying in mid-2018. During the interim period, these seats were sold as part of Economy Plus.
July 2019: DataSpii Data Leak Exposed
In July 2019, security researcher Sam Jadali exposed a data leak known as DataSpii, where United Airlines passenger data, including names and flight confirmation numbers, was disseminated due to vulnerabilities with clickstream data provider DDMR and marketing intelligence company Nacho Analytics (NA).
2019: Full Service Launch of Premium Plus
In 2019, United launched the full service for Premium Plus, which offers more comfort and amenities compared to United Economy or Economy Plus. Premium Plus recliner seats are wider, have more legroom, and are equipped with leg rests and footrests. Upgraded dining is served on china dinnerware with free alcoholic beverages. Passengers are provided with a more luxurious blanket and pillow, along with an amenity kit (on international flights).
2019: Lease Renewal at Willis Tower
In 2019, United renewed its lease at Willis Tower, originally ending in 2028 and now set to expire in 2033, and plans to construct a roof deck and a 30,000 sq ft dining hall on the fourth floor.
2019: Increase in First and Business Class Seats
In 2019, it was announced that United was increasing first and business class seats "by 1,600" across all their aircraft in their fleet, in part by introducing the Bombardier CRJ550, a premium-heavy 50-seat regional jet, for which United is the launch customer.
January 1, 2020: "Rhapsody in Blue" Enters Public Domain
On January 1, 2020, "Rhapsody in Blue" officially entered the Public Domain. United announced that it would continue to use the song as its theme song following the merger with Continental.
February 2021: United Airlines fined for postal service fraud
In February 2021, United Airlines was fined $49 million by the United States Department of Justice for fraud on postal service contracts related to international mail. Between 2012 and 2015, United submitted false delivery scan data to appear compliant with delivery time requirements, hiding this fact from the United States Postal Service.
August 2021: AFA Contract Amendable
The contract of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA) became amendable in August 2021.
2021: Unveiling of New Interiors for Narrowbody Aircraft
In 2021, United unveiled its new interiors for narrowbody aircraft, which debuted on its A321neos in 2023.
2021: Orders Placed for New Aircraft
Since 2021, United has placed orders for over 500 narrow-body jets and 150 wide-body Boeing 787 Dreamliners as part of its strategy, which also includes retiring older mainline aircraft and at least 200 single-class regional jets.
2022: United Aviate Academy Opens
In 2022, United Aviate Academy, a flight training school fully owned by United Airlines, opened at Phoenix Goodyear Airport. The academy serves as the primary training facility for United Aviate, United’s pilot career development program.
2022: Expanded Use of SAF Overseas
In 2022, United expanded its use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) overseas, to Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport, becoming the first US airline to purchase sustainable jet fuel overseas.
2022: Key Trends Data
The provided text mentions key trends for United Airlines as of the end of the calendar year 2022, but the specific data is not included in the text.
2023: Sustainable Fuel at San Francisco and London Heathrow
In 2023, United began using sustainable fuel at San Francisco International Airport and London Heathrow.
2023: Debut of New Interiors on A321neos
In 2023, the new interiors for narrowbody aircraft, unveiled in 2021, debuted on United's A321neos.
August 28, 2024: Flight Attendants Authorize Strike
On August 28, 2024, 99.9% of the flight attendants who voted were in favor of authorizing a strike.
December 5, 2024: Maintenance Technicians' Contract Amendable
The contract for United Airlines maintenance technicians, represented by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, became amendable on December 5, 2024.
2024: Sustainable Fuel at Chicago and Los Angeles Airports
In 2024, United expanded its use of sustainable fuel to Chicago O'Hare and Los Angeles International Airport.
2024: Equivalent value of 1976 Licensing of Rhapsody in Blue
In 2024, the US$500,000 paid by United in 1976 to license "Rhapsody in Blue", from Gershwin's estate is equivalent to $2,762,865.
January 2025: Market Capitalization Exceeds $35 Billion
As of January 2025, United Airlines Holdings, Inc. has a market capitalization exceeding $35 billion.
May 1, 2025: IAM District 141 Contract Amendable
The contract for the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) District 141, representing approximately 34,000 United workers, became amendable on May 1, 2025.
May 2025: Announcement of New Premium Plus Product
In May 2025, United announced a new Premium Plus product for premium-configured Boeing 787-9s, featuring privacy dividers and a built in reading light.
May 2025: Announcement of Upgraded Polaris Suite
In May 2025, United announced an upgraded Polaris suite for premium-configured Boeing 787-9s, set to debut in 2026, featuring sliding doors and larger 19 inch 4K touchscreens. The front row in each section of Polaris will consist of Polaris Studio suites, featuring a 27 inch 4K touchscreen, an ottoman for passengers traveling with a companion, and additional amenities.
2025: United Airlines Destinations
As of 2025, United Airlines flies (or has flown) to various destinations, excluding those served by its regional subsidiary, United Express.
2025: Ranked on Fortune 500 List
In 2025, United ranked No. 83 on the Fortune 500 list of the largest U.S. corporations by total revenue. Through United Airlines Holdings, the company also holds a 9.9% stake in Mesa Airlines.
2025: Personal Touchscreens at Every Seat
Under the United NEXT initiative, all mainline aircraft will feature personal touchscreens at every seat by the end of 2025. United Economy is available on all aircraft, offering a seat pitch of 31 inches (79 cm) and a recline of 2 to 5 inches (5.1 to 12.7 cm).
2026: Debut of Upgraded Polaris Suite (Planned)
The upgraded Polaris suite for premium-configured Boeing 787-9s, announced in May 2025, is set to debut in 2026.
September 30, 2027: United Pilots' Contract Amendable
The current contract for the United Airlines pilots, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), will become amendable on September 30, 2027.
2028: Original Lease End Date at Willis Tower
In 2019, United renewed its lease at Willis Tower, shifting the original end date from 2028 to 2033.
2030: Goal to Train 5,000 Pilots
By 2030, United Aviate Academy aims to train 5,000 pilots, with a focus on increasing diversity within the aviation industry by training more women and people of color.
2033: New Lease Expiration at Willis Tower
In 2019, United renewed its lease at Willis Tower, setting the new expiration date for 2033.
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