United Airlines Extends Lease on Maintenance Operations Center at San Francisco International Airport

Airline Recommits to Maintaining Aircraft in the Bay Area

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Mar 20, 2013, 01:05 ET

SAN FRANCISCO, March 20, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- United Airlines and the San Francisco Airport Commission have signed a 10-year lease extension on the airline's Maintenance Operations Center at San Francisco International Airport, United's largest maintenance facility.

"The lease extension on our San Francisco Maintenance Operations Center benefits our people, our customers and the Bay Area," said Greg Hart, United's senior vice president of technical operations. "United's investment underscores our commitment to San Francisco, the Maintenance Operations Center and its role in supporting the industry's premier trans-Pacific hub."

United has extensive maintenance facilities at its hubs in Chicago, Denver, Houston, San Francisco and Los Angeles and is currently constructing new widebody hangars at Newark Liberty International Airport and Washington Dulles International Airport. The airline anticipates completing construction on both by year end.

Maintenance Operations Center

United's 130-acre San Francisco Maintenance Operations Center employs nearly 3,500 maintenance professionals who maintain airframes, engines and components and perform significant cabin modifications on aircraft.

In May, United maintenance technicians at the facility will complete the final modification in a three-year process that involved outfitting dozens of the airline's Boeing 777 aircraft with all-new United Global First and United BusinessFirst cabins.

Technicians are currently installing satellite-based Wi-Fi on domestic and international widebody aircraft, with the first equipped aircraft having entered service in January.

United in San Francisco

At San Francisco International Airport, where approximately 5,600 United employees are based, the airline and its regional partners operate more than 300 flights daily, more than any other airline.

United offers nonstop service to nearly 85 destinations from San Francisco, including 16 markets in Asia, Australia, Europe and Latin America. The airline will begin nonstop service from San Francisco to Paris this spring.

United offers "p.s." Premium Service on all nonstop flights between San Francisco and New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport, with 46 flights each way per week. This week, the airline introduced the first p.s. aircraft reconfigured with an all-new interior, including flat-bed seats in the premium cabin, Gogo^®inflight Internet and personal on-demand entertainment, offering customers a higher level of service on these transcontinental flights.

About United

United Airlines and United Express operate an average of 5,472 flights a day to 381 airports across six continents. In 2012, United and United Express carried more passenger traffic than any other airline in the world and operated nearly two million flights carrying 140 million customers. United is investing in upgrading its onboard products and now offers more flat-bed seats in its premium cabins and more extra-legroom economy-class seating than any airline in North America. In 2013, United became the first U.S.-based international carrier to offer satellite-based Wi-Fi on long-haul overseas routes. The airline also features DIRECTV® on nearly 200 aircraft, offering customers more live television access than any other airline in the world. United operates nearly 700 mainline aircraft and has made large-scale investments in its fleet. In 2013, United will continue to modernize its fleet by taking delivery of more than two dozen new Boeing aircraft. The company expanded its industry-leading global route network in 2012, launching nine new international and 18 new domestic routes. Business Traveler magazine awarded United Best Airline for North American Travel for 2012, and readers of Global Traveler magazine have voted United's MileagePlus program the best frequent flyer program for nine consecutive years. United is a founding member of Star Alliance, which provides service to 194 countries via 27 member airlines. More than 85,000 United employees reside in every U.S. state and in countries around the world. For more information, visit united.com or follow United on Twitter and Facebook. The common stock of United's parent, United Continental Holdings, Inc., is traded on the NYSE under the symbol UAL.

SOURCE United Airlines