United Airlines, Inc. is a major airline in the United States headquartered at the Willis Tower in Chicago, Illinois. United operates an extensive domestic and international route network across the United States and all six inhabited continents primarily out of its seven hubs, with Chicago–O'Hare having the largest number of daily flights and Denver carrying the most passengers in 2023. Regional service is operated by independent carriers under the brand name United Express.
United was formed by the amalgamation of several airlines in the late 1920s, the oldest of these being Varney Air Lines, created in 1926 by Walter Varney who later co-founded the predecessor to Continental Airlines. In 1997, United became one of the five founding airlines of Star Alliance, of which it remains a member today. Since its merger with Continental in 2010, United consistently ranks as one of the world's largest airlines; it is currently first by the number of destinations served and second in terms of revenue and fleet size.
1930–1933[]
1933–1935[]
1935–1937[]
1937–1940[]
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1940–1954[]
This logo was introduced in the early 1940s. It was a simplification of an earlier shield logo first introduced in 1936.
1954–1961[]
1961–1969[]
Designed by Raymond Loewy/William Snaith, Inc. Another change to the logo came around the early months of 1961, when United merged with Capital Airlines.
1961–1974[]
1961–1969[]
The logo consisted of an oblique vertical "spike," blue on bottom and red on top, running through the name "United" written in a black or blue serif italic font.
1960s aircraft livery
1969-1974[]
The logo consisted of an oblique vertical "spike," blue on bottom and red on top, running through the name "United" written in a black or blue Bookman Jf Pro Italic font.
This logo, featuring a stylized "U" slanted 68 degrees, is often referred to as "the tulip". It also marked the return of the company's full name (albeit with "Airlines" as one word).
Headquarters sign
Horizontal variant
Variant without "Airlines"
Horizontal variant without "Airlines"
Symbol
Wordmark without "Airlines"
1988–1993[]
An alternative version of United Airlines' wordmark was introduced in 1988. At the same time, United Airlines and "the tulip" logo designer Saul Bass also modified the aircraft livery, which makes the cheatline across windows to be lowered by one color line (except Boeing 747, which still keeps the 1974 cheatline design) and larger horizontal variant wordmark at front of fuselage.
1988 update of 1974 aircraft livery
1993–1998[]
Designer:
CKS Partners
Typography:
Bodoni (modified)
Launched:
January 1993
In January 1993, the United tulip and brand were refreshed by CKS Partners. This logo appeared on airplanes painted in the "Battleship Grey" livery from 1993 to 2004, and was commonly seen until 2011.
In 1998, United started implementing a new identity created by Pentagram. This logo was featured on airplanes in the new "Rising Blue" livery; however, this would not show up on aircraft until early 2004.
In 2010, United acquired Continental Airlines in a merger completed later that year. Initially, the entities remained separate, with United continuing to use the slant U logo. The logo and livery was presented with the merger on May 3 and keeps most aspects of Continental's Lippincott & Margulies-designed 1992 identity, but replaces the Continental name with United.
Planned aircraft livery
2010–2019[]
Designer:
Unknown
Typography:
Unknown
Launched:
Unknown
On August 11, 2010, the initial merger identity was replaced after only four months, with a tweaked logo and livery revealed. The merger was officially completed on October 1, 2010.
Colored symbol
Logo with full name (used during Hurricane Harvey relief efforts)
2019–present[]
Designer:
Unknown
Typography:
Unknown
Launched:
Unknown
In April 2019, United Airlines introduced their new livery and updated the logo color with their brand new "United Blue", and the amount of windows on the globe was reduced.
Notes 1Merged with United Airlines, a Star Alliance founding member. 2Merged with American Airlines, a Oneworld founding member. 3As Connecting Partner before closure. 4Renamed as LATAM Airlines Brazil and LATAM Airlines Paraguay 2 years after leave the alliance.