United Airlines CFO Denies Plans to Move Headquarters from Chicago to Denver

United Airlines CFO Gerald Laderman has denied any plans to move the airline’s headquarters from Chicago to Denver, despite the recent purchase of land in the latter city. Laderman said that the land acquisition was meant to expand the airline’s training base in Denver, not to relocate its corporate offices.

“We have a long-term lease at the Willis Tower, our headquarters,” Laderman said at the TD Cowen Global Transportation Conference in Boston on Wednesday. “We have been in Chicago for decades.”

Laderman’s comments came after a Reuters report last month that United Airlines bought 113 acres of land in Denver for $33 million, sparking speculation that the airline might be considering a move. The report said that the airline planned to use part of the land for its pilot training facility, which it had outgrown.

United Airlines is the largest employer in Denver, with about 10,000 employees. It operates its largest hub at the Denver International Airport, where it has about 42% of the market share.

However, United Airlines has also been based in Chicago since 2012, when it moved its headquarters to the Willis Tower, formerly known as the Sears Tower. The airline extended its lease in the tower for 14 years in 2019, despite being courted by other developers in the city.

Laderman said that the airline would gradually increase its weekly service between Tokyo and Kona, Hawaii, starting from October 29th. He also said that the airline was recovering from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which had severely affected its revenues and operations.

See other United Airlines news.

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, msn.com, Reuters.com, Chicago Tribune