United Airlines Opens New Widebody Hangar at Washington Dulles

DULLES, Va., Nov. 21, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- United Airlines officially opened its new widebody aircraft maintenance hangar today at Washington Dulles International Airport, a major United hub and the airline's principal gateway to the Middle East.

United invested nearly $45 million to construct the facility, which will enable the airline to perform maintenance on two widebody or several narrowbody aircraft simultaneously. United employs approximately 300 technical operations employees at Dulles, and has nearly 6,000 employees throughout the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area.

"The close relationship between Dulles and United goes back decades, and this facility represents yet another important investment in this key market," said Greg Hart, United's senior vice president for technical operations. "Our new maintenance hangar, coupled with additional improvements in our terminals, gate areas, lounges and employee facilities, will deliver greater reliability for our customers and enhance their overall travel experience."

More than 600 area construction workers helped build the 125,000-square-foot hangar, which includes 85,000 square feet of enclosed aircraft space.

"The opening of United's new state-of-the-art maintenance hangar further solidifies Dulles International's position as a world-class hub for aviation," said Jack Potter, president and CEO of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority. "This hangar is a significant investment in the airport and the region, and it will support smooth, efficient travel for the more than 14 million United passengers who fly through Dulles each year."

United has maintenance hangars at its hubs in Chicago, Cleveland, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles and San Francisco, and is nearing completion on another widebody hangar at Newark Liberty International Airport.

Investing in Washington Dulles

United offers nearly 270 daily departures from Washington Dulles to more than 100 airports throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia. The airport also serves as United's principal gateway to the Middle East, with the airline offering nonstop service to Kuwait and Dubai, and one-stop service to Bahrain and Doha.

Since 2010, United has also added service from Dulles to several international destinations, including Manchester, England; Dublin; San Salvador, El Salvador; Guatemala City; San Jose, Costa Rica; and Madrid.

About United

United Airlines and United Express operate an average of more than 5,300 flights a day to more than 360 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 more than 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 continues to modernize its fleet by taking delivery of more than two dozen new Boeing aircraft. The company will have launched 14 new international and 19 new domestic routes, including the addition of seven new cities to its network, by the end of 2013. 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. According to the 4^th annual Switchfly Reward Seat Availability Survey published by IdeaWorksCompany in May 2013, United has the most saver-style award-seat availability among the largest U.S. global airlines. Air Transport World named United as the Eco-Aviation Airline of the Year Gold Winner in 2013. United is a founding member of Star Alliance, which provides service to 195 countries via 28 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.

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SOURCE United Airlines