Outsiders Show Interest in Taking Over United

Creditors at UAL Corp., parent of United Airlines, for the first time have indicated that outside buyers have expressed interest in taking over the carrier as it emerges from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

In a court filing late last week, the creditors committee said it didn’t agree with the implication that there were no other qualified parties interested in submitting alternate plans of reorganization. United said it wasn’t aware of any competing plans being put forward.

Crain’s Chicago Business, citing industry sources and sources close to United, named Texas Pacific Group of Fort Worth and investor groups headed by two former airline chief executives, United’s Gerald Greenwald and Continental’s Gordon Bethune as the interested buyers.