Careers at United Airlines

Mission

United Airlines’ mission is to be the airline customers want to fly, the airline employees want to work for, and the airline shareholders want to invest in.

Business segments

United Airlines is an airline company. The firm operates four reportable business segments based on geography:  Domestic (United States and Canada), Pacific, Atlantic, and Latin America.

History

Aviation expert and businessman William Boeing founded the Boeing Airplane Company, an airline, in 1916. In 1919 it carried out the first international postal delivery. In 1928 he launched United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), a manufacturer of plane parts. UAC then acquired mail and passenger service operator Pacific Air Transport and was renamed Boeing Aircraft & Transport Co.

In 1929 Boeing Aircraft & Transport Co. merged with Pratt & Whitney Aircraft to form United Aircraft and Transport Corporation (UATC). Later that year, UATC purchased Stout Air Services (America's first scheduled passenger services carrier). In 1930 it bought Varney Air Lines (the first scheduled mail service operator) and National Air Transport (a mail-only carrier based in Chicago).

In 1931 UATC established United Air Lines, Inc. to manage its various airline subsidiaries. The wide variety of its businesses enabled it to offer coast-to-coast mail and passenger services. In 1934 the government banned common ownership of both airlines and airline manufacturers. As a result, UATC was broken up, with its airline interests forming a new, separate company called United Air Lines.

In 1961 United Air Lines merged with Capital Airlines, usurping competitor American Airlines to become the top airline in the U.S. and the second largest airline in the world (behind the Soviet Union’s Aeroflot). In 1967 it became the first airline to achieve $1 billion in annual revenues. In 1968 it reorganized, forming UAL Corporation and creating United Airlines, a wholly-owned subsidiary.

Benefits at United Airlines

Health insurance Dental insurance Vision insurance Life insurance Disability insurance Health care on-site Mental health care Pension plan Performance bonus 401k Plan Family medical leave Dependent care Childcare Unpaid extended leave Vacation & Paid time off Paid holidays Paid sick days Bereavement leave Employee discount Employee assistance program Company mobile phone Company social events

Business model of United Airlines

Customer Segments

United has a mass market business model, with no significant differentiation between customer segments. The company targets its offering at all consumers who want to take plane flights.

Value Proposition

United offers four primary value propositions: innovation, accessibility, cost reduction, and brand/status.

The company has embraced innovation from the start. Its groundbreaking firsts include:

  • Introducing air-to-ground radio, improving flight safety and communication
  • Introducing stewardesses, who originated as in-flight registered nurses, to airlines
  • Introducing the Boeing 247, which enabled non-stop flight across the U.S. for the first time
  • Introducing flight simulators with visual, motion, and sound cues for training pilots
  • Becoming the first U.S airline to complete WiFi installations on its international fleet
  • Becoming the first airline to offer Personal Device Entertainment (PDF) as an alternative

The company creates accessibility by providing a wide variety of options. All of its domestic hubs are located in large population and business centers. This hub-and-spoke format enables it to transport customers between a high number of desinations with more frequent service than if each route were handled directly. It also enables United to add service to a new destination from a large number of cities using a limited number of aircraft. The company also creates accessibility by catering to special travel needs among passengers. It provides tailored services for customers with disabilities, children traveling alone, pregnant travelers, customers requiring extra seating, passengers with animals,  senior travelers, customers with peanut allergies, and customers with various specific dietary needs.

The company reduces costs in a variety of ways, which include the following

  • United Specials – last-minute getaway deals
  • Offers through MileagePlus, the company’s frequent flyer program
  • Promotional certificates toward air travel purchase that can be redeemed online
  • Car rental offers offering discounts as high as 40% through United’s partner Hertz
  • Discounts for U.S. veterans and their family members

The company has established a powerful brand due to its success. It maintains the world’s most comprehensive route network, with gateways to Asia and Australia, Europe, Latin America, Africa, and the Middle East and non-stop or one-stop service from almost anywhere in the U.S. It serves 340 destinations, including 212 domestic and 127 international (with 54 countries in its reach). It experiences 5,000 daily departures on average, and transported 140 million passengers in 2015 through over 1.5 million flights. It operates the most fuel-efficient fleet among U.S. network carriers. Lastly, it has won a number of honors, including recognition by Global Traveler for having the Best Frequent Flyer Bonus Program and Best Overall Frequent Flyer Program for 12 years in a row.

Channels

United’s main channels are its website, mobile app, online travel agencies, and traditional travel agencies. The company promotes its offering through its social media pages, advertising, and participation in trade shows and conferences.

Customer Relationships

United’s customer relationship is primarily of a personal assistance nature. The company transports passengers to their destinations via plane and provides various services on each flight.

That said, there is a self-service component. The company’s various distribution channels enable consumers to purchase tickets on their own. Also, its website features a “Travel Resources” section that includes airport terminal maps, fleet specifications, how-to-guides, a currency converter, and answers to frequently asked questions.

The site also features a newsletter with updates, promotions, and tips, and an “Operational Status” section that includes information on current flight status and travel advisories. Lastly, it operates United University, which provides a continuing education program that features online courses for travel agency employees in operations and account management.

Key Activities

United’s business model entails designing and developing its services for its customers.

Key Partners

United maintains the following types of partnerships:

  • United Express Partners – Airlines that support the company’s route network through the U.S. and Canada, operating a wide range of aircraft. Specific partners include Cape Air, ExpressJet, GoJet Airlines, Mesa Airlines, Republic Airlines, Shuttle America, SkyWest Airlines, and Trans States Airlines.
  • Star Alliance Partners – Members of Star Alliance, the world’s largest airline alliance of which United is a founding member. It provides service to more than 190 countries through 28 member firms. Specific partners are Adria Airways, Aegean Airlines, Air Canada, Air China, Air India, Air New Zealand, All Nippon Airways (ANA), Asiana Airlines, Austrian Airlines, Avianca, Avianca Brasil, Brussels Airlines, Copa Airlines, Croatia Airlines, EGYPTAIR, Ethiopian Airlines, EVA Air, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, SAS Scandinavian Airlines, Shenzhen Airlines, Singapore Airlines, South African Airways, SWISS, TAP Portugal, THAI Airways International, and Turkish Airlines.

Key Resources

United’s main resources are its physical resources. As of December 2015 it operated 720 mainline planes, with plans to add 21 new Boeing aircraft and six Airbus aircraft in the coming year. The company also depends on human resources in the form of travel agents, pilots, flight attendants, and other flight personnel.

Cost Structure

United has a cost-driven structure, aiming to minimize expenses through significant automation and low-price value propositions. Its biggest cost driver is likely cost of services, a variable expense. Other major drivers are in the areas of sales/marketing and transaction expenses, both fixed costs.

Revenue Streams

United has three revenue streams:

  • Ticket Revenues – Revenues generated from sales of tickets to passengers for flight
  • Cargo Revenues – Revenues generated from sales of flights for cargo transport
  • Other Operating Revenues – Revenues generated from miscellaneous sources, including advertising solutions offered to brands and third-party businesses

Our team

Oscar Munoz,
Chief Executive Officer

info: Oscar Munoz earned a B.S. in Business Administration at the University of Southern California and an MBA at Pepperdine University. He previously served as President and Chief Operating Officer of CSX Corporation, a freight transportation company.

Scott Kirby,
President

info: Scott Kirby earned a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and Operations Research at the U.S. Air Force Academy and a Master of Science in Operations Research at George Washington University. He previously served as President of American Airlines.

Michael P. Bonds,
EVP, Human Resources and Labor Relations

info: Michael P. Bonds earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration at the University of Arkansas. He previously served as SVP of Human Resources and Labor Relations and VP of Corporate Development at Continental Airlines.

James Compton,
Vice Chairman

info: James Compton earned Bachelor of Science and Master’s degrees in Economics at the University of Illinois – Chicago. He previously served as Chief Revenue Officer of United and as SVP of Marketing and Senior Director of Pricing at Continental Airlines.