CHICAGO, Jan. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- United Airlines announced today that the company's pilots have voted overwhelmingly to ratify a two-year contract extension. The agreement provides significant improvements for United pilots and an extended period of stability for the company and the pilots.

"This extension provides further momentum for United as we work together with the shared purpose of making United the best airline for our employees and customers," said Oscar Munoz, president and CEO of United. "I want to recognize the efforts of both ALPA's and United's negotiating teams. Their hard work enabled us to achieve this ratified contract extension more than a year ahead of the amendable date."

The agreement runs through January 2019 and covers United's more than 12,000 pilots.

United has joint collective bargaining agreements covering the majority of its represented employees and recently opened contract negotiations early for the airline's ramp service and passenger service agents, storekeepers, load planners, maintenance and fleet technical instructors, and other groups represented by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers. The airline is also engaged in mediated negotiations with the Association of Flight Attendants and recently announced an agreement with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters to put a proposed joint collective bargaining agreement out for ratification by the company's technicians and related employees.

About United
United Airlines and United Express operate an average of nearly 5,000 flights a day to 342 airports across six continents. In 2015, United and United Express operated nearly two million flights carrying 140 million customers. United is proud to have the world's most comprehensive route network, including U.S. mainland hubs in Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, New York/Newark, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. United operates more than 700 mainline aircraft, and this year, the airline anticipates taking delivery of 20 new Boeing aircraft, including 737 NGs, 787s and 777s. The airline is a founding member of Star Alliance, which provides service to 192 countries via 28 member airlines. Approximately 84,000 United employees reside in every U.S. state and in countries around the world. For more information, visit united.com, follow @United on Twitter or connect on Facebook. The common stock of United's parent, United Continental Holdings, Inc., is traded on the NYSE under the symbol UAL.

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SOURCE United Airlines