United Airlines

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.

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.

1974–2010[]

1974–1993[]

Designer:

Mamoru Shimokochi (symbol)
Saul Bass

Typography:

Handel Gothic (modified)

Launched:

September 1974

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).

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.

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.

1998–2010[]

Designer:

Pentagram

Typography:

Unknown

Launched:

Unknown

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.

2010–present[]

May–August 2010[]

Designer:

Constance Birdsall for
Lippincott & Margulies
(for Continental Airlines, 1992)

Typography:

Perpetua

Launched:

May 3, 2010

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.

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.

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.

◄	Capital Airlines (United States) Continental Airlines

United Airlines



1930–1933	1933–1935	1935–1937	1937–1940	1940–1954	1954–1960


1960–1961	1961–1971	1971-1974	1974–1993	1988-1993	1993–1998


1998–2010	May–August 2010	2010–2019	2019–present