CHICAGO (WGN) — United Airlines has sent another signal about a potential move of its corporate headquarters from Chicago to Denver.
In a new filing with the City of Denver, United said it may eventually build more than 1 million square feet of office space to accommodate more than 6,000 employees on land it purchased in 2023 near the Denver airport. United employs nearly 5,000 corporate employees in Chicago.
The first priority for development of the Denver land is for a new flight simulator training center. The airline says future growth and pilot training will create demand for 60 additional flight simulator bays than United currently operates closer to the downtown Denver.
The master plan makes clear the 113-acre site has “flexibility for the future” that could include as many nine buildings with room for 6,000 employees, 5,500 parking spaces, a fitness center, conference space and dining options. It’s located along a commuter rail line that connects directly to the Denver International Airport.
“The land provides United with future options, of which there are no set plans beyond using the land to expand our Flight Training Center capabilities,” United spokesperson Pat Mullane told WGN Investigates.
Representatives of Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
United officials have previously downplayed – but not ruled-out – a headquarters move to Denver. When the land deal was first revealed in January 2024 a United spokesperson said an HQ move to Denver was not “imminent.”
“We do not have anything additional to share on our plans for the land we’ve purchased in Denver,” a United Airlines spokesperson in Denver told FOX31. “The land provides United with future options, of which there are no set plans beyond using the land to expand our Flight Training Center capabilities.”
View United’s master plan for the site below:
United’s Chicago dominance expands
Regardless of the location of the corporate headquarters, United remains dominant in Chicago and is planning expansion at O’Hare. This week, the airline announced it had filed a request with the Chicago Department of Aviation to take over six additional gates. Last year, United operated 52% of O’Hare departures but only had 48% of gates. United says the extra space will allow more flights including at least two new long-haul international destinations from Chicago.
“We’re flying more seats from Chicago than we have in the past two years and hired nearly 2,000 employees in Illinois last year,” read an email from United’s VP of Chicago hub operations to employees on Feb. 4.
Chicago is United’s largest hub followed by Denver and Houston.
United moved its longtime corporate headquarters from northwest suburban Elk Grove Village to Chicago’s Willis Tower in 2007; however, the airline maintains support operations in the northwest suburbs.
