CHICAGO, June 10 (Xinhua) -- The United Airlines will expand its operations and increase 1,300 new jobs in its domestic services, local officials said.
"I'm most pleased with this because Chicago is an aviation leader," said Rahm Emanuel, new mayor of Chicago, in an appearance with United Airlines President and CEO Jeff Smisek at the airlines' new headquarters at Willis (formerly Sears) Tower.
"It (Chicago) is one of the most important cities in the world and in the area of aviation, which is a growing sector in this country and growing sector in the world," said Emanuel, who vowed to keep Chicago's position as a global aviation hub.
Smisek said the 1,300 new jobs are "good, well-paying" positions in operations and technology.
Most of the jobs will be coming from "within the system" of United Airlines, and many are coming from the airlines' operations in Houston and San Francisco, Smisek said.
The new jobs will be in addition to the 14,000 ones across Illinois, including 4,000 already in Chicago, said Smisek.
As of 2009, the aviation industry brought in 48.5 billion U.S. dollars and 356,000 jobs in Illinois, said Emanuel, citing figures from the latest report by the Federal Aviation Administration.
Former UAL Corporation, parent of United Airlines, merged with Continental Airlines last October to create the world's largest airline by traffic -- United Continental Holdings.
However, United and Continental will continue to operate as separate carriers until they receive their single operating certificate, which is expected by the end of 2011.
Illinois Governor Pat Quinn issued a statement praising the job announcement, saying the investment will have a "major impact" in the state.
"I'm most pleased with this because Chicago is an aviation leader," said Rahm Emanuel, new mayor of Chicago, in an appearance with United Airlines President and CEO Jeff Smisek at the airlines' new headquarters at Willis (formerly Sears) Tower.
"It (Chicago) is one of the most important cities in the world and in the area of aviation, which is a growing sector in this country and growing sector in the world," said Emanuel, who vowed to keep Chicago's position as a global aviation hub.
Smisek said the 1,300 new jobs are "good, well-paying" positions in operations and technology.
Most of the jobs will be coming from "within the system" of United Airlines, and many are coming from the airlines' operations in Houston and San Francisco, Smisek said.
The new jobs will be in addition to the 14,000 ones across Illinois, including 4,000 already in Chicago, said Smisek.
As of 2009, the aviation industry brought in 48.5 billion U.S. dollars and 356,000 jobs in Illinois, said Emanuel, citing figures from the latest report by the Federal Aviation Administration.
Former UAL Corporation, parent of United Airlines, merged with Continental Airlines last October to create the world's largest airline by traffic -- United Continental Holdings.
However, United and Continental will continue to operate as separate carriers until they receive their single operating certificate, which is expected by the end of 2011.
Illinois Governor Pat Quinn issued a statement praising the job announcement, saying the investment will have a "major impact" in the state.
