Airline profile · Americas

United Airlines

United StatesFull-service carrierStar Alliance memberSince 1926

UAIATA code
UALICAO code

United Airlines (IATA UA, ICAO UAL) is a major US airline based in Chicago, with seven US hubs and more than 370 destinations on six continents. A founding member of Star Alliance in 1997, it describes itself as the world's largest airline by available seat miles, and its group fleet totalled 1,575 aircraft at the end of September 2026.

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Founded
1926
First flight
1926
Headquarters
Chicago, Illinois, United States
Country
United States
Main hubs
Chicago O'Hare (ORD) · Denver (DEN) · Houston George Bush Intercontinental (IAH) · Los Angeles (LAX) · Newark Liberty (EWR) · San Francisco (SFO) · Washington Dulles (IAD)
Airline type
Full-service carrier
Alliance
Star Alliance
Loyalty
MileagePlus
Parent
United Airlines Holdings, Inc.
Ownership
United Airlines Holdings, Inc. is a public company listed on Nasdaq under the ticker UAL.
Callsign
UNITED
Website
united.com

How travel agents book United Airlines

GDS distribution

United content is distributed through the major GDSs. Travelport renewed a multi-year agreement with United in August 2023, and in December 2025 the two signed a long-term strategic relationship giving Travelport early access to United's NDC roadmap.

NDC

United runs an NDC programme. Its NDC offers went live on Sabre in April 2023 in more than 70 countries, including continuous pricing content, and on Travelport+ from August 2023 with search, booking and servicing. Under the December 2025 Travelport agreement, new NDC and online booking tool features were due to roll out from early 2026.

Direct channels

Direct channels include united.com and the United app. Business customers can use United's corporate programmes and Jetstream amenity funds, which the 2025 Travelport deal plans to bring into Travelport tools.

Notes for travel agents

Through Travelport, United planned to let agencies pool unused travel credits, enrol travellers in MileagePlus and use Jetstream funds for ancillaries in 2026; check which features are live in your booking tool.

On ReservationHub

United Airlines is one of the direct airline connections listed on our integrations page, alongside GDS (Amadeus, Sabre, Travelport) and NDC content. Agencies get it in the SaaS platform; developers through the Travel API.

History of United Airlines

United traces its origins to 1926, when Varney Air Lines began carrying airmail from Pasco, Washington. Varney and other early mail carriers were brought together under the United Aircraft and Transport Corporation, and United Air Lines was formed as a separate airline company in 1931. In 2026 United marked its centenary.

United grew into one of the largest US domestic and international airlines. On 14 May 1997 it was one of the five airlines, with Air Canada, Lufthansa, SAS and Thai, that launched Star Alliance. Continental Airlines joined Star Alliance in 2009 and merged with United in 2010, creating today's network of hubs from Newark to San Francisco.

United has pushed modern airline retailing in the agency channel. Its NDC content went live on Sabre in April 2023 and on Travelport+ in August 2023, and in December 2025 it signed a long-term strategic agreement with Travelport covering NDC development and online booking tool features. Its fleet is growing with Boeing 787s, 737 MAX aircraft and Airbus A321neos, and it took its first A321XLR in June 2026.

Milestones

  1. 1926Varney Air Lines, United's earliest predecessor, began airmail flights.
  2. 1997Co-founded Star Alliance on 14 May.
  3. 2010Merged with Continental Airlines.
  4. 2023NDC content launched on Sabre (April) and Travelport+ (August).
  5. 2025Signed a long-term strategic retailing agreement with Travelport in December.
  6. 2026First Airbus A321XLR delivered in June.

Fleet

Airbus A319 Airbus A320 Airbus A321neo Airbus A321XLR Boeing 737-700/-800/-900/-900ER Boeing 737 MAX 8/MAX 9 Boeing 757-200/-300 Boeing 767-300ER/-400ER Boeing 777-200/-200ER/-300ER Boeing 787-8/-9/-10

Aircraft types in service as of 2026

United reported 1,575 aircraft in its fleet at 30 September 2026, a figure that includes regional aircraft flown as United Express; investor materials describe a mainline fleet of more than 1,000. Deliveries planned to April 2028 include 47 Boeing 787-9s, 58 A321neos, 28 A321XLRs and 119 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft. The first A321XLR arrived on 3 June 2026.

Network and hubs

United's seven US hubs are Chicago O'Hare, Denver, Houston Intercontinental, Los Angeles, Newark, San Francisco and Washington Dulles, with Guam and Tokyo as Pacific gateways. United says it runs more than 5,000 daily departures to over 370 destinations on six continents, serving about 175 million customers a year.

Its network covers the US domestic market and long-haul routes to Europe, Asia, Australia, Latin America, Africa and the Middle East. Joint ventures with Star Alliance partners, including Lufthansa Group and Air Canada, extend its reach.

United Airlines: frequently asked questions

What are United Airlines' codes?

United Airlines' IATA code is UA and its ICAO code is UAL, with the radio callsign UNITED. Its parent company, United Airlines Holdings, also trades on Nasdaq under the ticker UAL.

Can travel agents book United NDC content?

Yes. United's NDC offers have been available on Sabre since April 2023 and on Travelport+ since August 2023, with search, booking, changes and cancellations. In December 2025 United signed a long-term strategic agreement with Travelport to add more NDC features from 2026.

Where are United's hubs?

United's US hubs are Chicago O'Hare, Denver, Houston Intercontinental, Los Angeles, Newark, San Francisco and Washington Dulles. Guam and Tokyo also serve as Pacific gateways for its international network.

Is United a member of Star Alliance?

Yes. United was one of the five airlines that launched Star Alliance on 14 May 1997, together with Air Canada, Lufthansa, SAS and Thai Airways. MileagePlus members can earn and redeem miles across Star Alliance airlines.

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Sources

  1. United Airlines — Investor relations (company facts)
  2. United Airlines — Q3 2026 results (October 2026), via PR Newswire
  3. Star Alliance — United member profile
  4. Star Alliance — History
  5. Travelport — United Airlines and Travelport long-term strategic relationship (December 2025)
  6. Travelport — United NDC content available to Travelport customers (August 2023)
  7. GTP — Sabre launches United Airlines NDC offers (April 2023)
  8. Travel Extra — United Airlines expects over 250 deliveries by 2028 (March 2026)
  9. Travel Extra — United Airlines takes delivery of first A321XLR (June 2026)
  10. Travel Extra — Shannon Airport celebrates partnership with United in its centenary year (April 2026)
  11. IATA — Airline code search (United Airlines)
  12. FAA — JO 7340.2 Contractions, ICAO aircraft operator designators

Profile updated by the ReservationHub team. Airline details change: confirm schedules, fares and policies with the airline before booking. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.