United Airlines to Move Head Office to Chicago From Suburb

UAL Corp.’s United Airlines plans to move its headquarters to Chicago from the suburb of Elk Grove Township early next year and will shift about 350 management workers to its new location.

The airline’s new headquarters will be at 77 W. Wacker Drive in Chicago, spokeswoman Meghan McCarthy said. United had also considered Denver and San Francisco, she said. The announcement was made Saturday.

United will receive $5.25 million in tax financing from the city and $1.35 million in infrastructure improvement and job training grants from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, the company said.

Also, the city and state will seek legislation to cap the jet fuel tax for the next five years, United said. The company also will combine several of its suburban facilities in Elk Grove, northwest of Chicago.

The company, which emerged from bankruptcy protection Feb. 1 after cutting its workforce and shrinking its fleet, has been in Elk Grove since moving from Chicago’s South Side in 1961, according to United’s website.