TRAVEL AND TOURISM

United Front: The 93 Orange County-based employees of United Airlines have a new boss: themselves.

They are the local force among 75,000 United workers who will share a stake in the giant carrier as a result of shareholders’ approval this week of one of the largest employee-ownership deals.

United’s presence at Orange County’s John Wayne Airport may grow if its planned United Shuttle goes forward here.

Proposed as an “airline within an airline,” United Shuttle would operate at lower overall costs than the rest of the carrier and concentrate on relatively short trips. That way, United could compete against discount carrier Southwest Airlines.

“United’s commitment to Orange County has always been strong,” said United spokesman John D. Kiker. “Now that we have a stake in the future, I think the friendly skies have just become friendlier.”

United now has 17 daily flights in Orange County.

While the carrier has not indicated which could become United Shuttle flights, a good choice might be its seven daily flights to San Francisco. Southwest started flying to San Jose and Oakland in May, but so far there are no discount flights from Orange County to San Francisco.