United to Buy Airport Space, Takeoff Rights from Eastern

United Airlines plans to pay $60 million for airport space and takeoff rights owned by Eastern Airlines in Chicago and Los Angeles, a United spokeswoman said Thursday.

United would get three gates at Los Angeles International Airport and three at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport, said United spokeswoman Sara Dornacker.

United would also get Eastern’s takeoff and landing “slots” at O’Hare, probably about 20, Dornacker said. United, based in Chicago, has 729 slots there now.

Karen Ceremsak, spokeswoman for Miami-based Eastern, said in a statement that discussions with United began before the shutdown of Eastern operations last week.

The agreement, reached with Eastern’s bankruptcy trustees, must be approved by bankruptcy court, local airport officials and federal antitrust officials, she said.

Dornacker said United will lease the takeoff slots until the sale receives final approval.