United Airlines to Open Two New Flight Attendant Bases
United Airlines is opening two new flight attendant bases, but has not revealed their locations. The airline is informing new-hire trainees of the expansion as it recruits thousands of new crew members.
United Airlines will open two new flight attendant bases, bringing its total number of domestic and international crew bases to 12. The locations of the new bases remain undisclosed, according to a report by aviation news site Paddleyourownkanoo.
The airline has been informing new-hire flight attendants at its Houston training center about the upcoming expansion. United currently operates eight domestic flight attendant bases, along with international bases in London Heathrow and Guam. The carrier is training thousands of new hires to bolster its workforce of more than 30,000 flight attendants.
New-hire trainees are among the first to learn of the plans because they have little say in their initial base assignments after graduation. The airline recently closed another recruitment window as part of its ongoing expansion.
Current United Flight Attendant Bases
United's existing domestic flight attendant bases vary significantly in size. The airline's largest base is at Newark Liberty International Airport, which also covers operations at LaGuardia.
| Base Airport (Code) | Approximate Lineholders (Aug 2026) |
|---|---|
| Newark (EWR) | Nearly 5,000 |
| San Francisco (SFO) | Around 3,500 |
| Chicago O'Hare (ORD) | Around 2,600 |
| Washington Dulles (IAD) | Not specified |
| Houston (IAH) | Not specified |
| Denver (DEN) | Not specified |
| Los Angeles (LAX) | Not specified |
| Phoenix (PHX) | 220 |
Phoenix is currently the smallest base, with just 220 lineholders. Lineholders are flight attendants with set monthly schedules, as opposed to those on reserve.
Rumors and Speculation on Locations
Despite the secrecy, rumors among crew members point to several potential locations. Aviation insider JonNYC suggested on social media that high hotel costs and existing concentrations of flight attendants could influence the decision.
"Rather than spending money on expensive hotels for crew layovers between flights, it could work out cheaper for United to open smaller bases in these cities where flights are operated by locally based flight attendants," the report notes, summarizing the insider's view.
Speculated airports include Miami, Minneapolis-Saint Paul, Orlando, and Atlanta. There are also rumors that United could reopen former bases in Seattle and New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK). A base at JFK once existed but was shut down years ago.
CEO Comments Provide Clues
Public comments from United's chief executive, Scott Kirby, offer potential clues. Kirby recently confirmed United's desire to expand in South America and the southeastern United States.
Miami International Airport is widely seen as a gateway to South America, a region where United currently has no crew bases. High hotel costs in Miami could make a local base financially attractive. The airline is also investing hundreds of millions of dollars at MIA, with new gates and a United Club planned.
Regarding New York JFK, Kirby has indicated United will try to acquire more operating slots there soon. The airline is returning to JFK next year through a partnership with JetBlue. While United's primary New York hub is Newark, the airline could designate JFK as a co-base. However, the report cautions this might spread crew resources thin, as is already the case with the Newark base covering LaGuardia. If United is serious about JFK, creating a small dedicated base there could be an opportunity.
The final decision, and the mystery of the second location, remains with the airline.
