CHICAGO, Dec. 15, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- United Airlines today announced that pilots, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), ratified a new joint labor agreement for all United Airlines pilots.

"The ratification of this agreement is an important step forward for our pilots and the company," said Fred Abbott, senior vice president of flight operations. "We look forward to the efficiencies and teamwork we will achieve as our pilots become one group once they complete their seniority integration."

The agreement runs through December 2016 and covers nearly 10,000 United pilots.

"I want to thank both negotiating teams and the National Mediation Board for their efforts in reaching this agreement that provides both improvements for our pilots and increased competitiveness for United," said Mike Bonds, executive vice president of human resources and labor relations. "We are making good progress working together with our remaining employee groups to reach joint agreements to become a fully combined workforce."

Since merging with Continental, United has made significant progress in bringing together work groups. The company has reached several agreements including a combined agreement for pilots, agreements with flight attendants from the United, Continental and CMI subsidiaries; and agreements with technicians from the United, Continental and CMI subsidiaries.

About United
United Airlines and United Express operate an average of 5,557 flights a day to 378 airports on six continents from the airline's hubs in Chicago, Cleveland, Denver, Guam, Houston, Los Angeles, New York/Newark, San Francisco, Tokyo and Washington, D.C. In 2011, United carried more traffic than any other airline in the world, and operated more than two million flights carrying 142 million passengers. United is upgrading its cabins with more flat-bed seats in first and business class and more extra-legroom economy-class seating than any other airline in North America. United now has 180 airplanes featuring DIRECTV®, offering customers more live television access than any other airline in the world. United operates nearly 700 mainline aircraft and has orders for more than 270 new aircraft deliveries through 2022. In 2012, United was the first North American airline to take delivery of new Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft. United was rated the world's most admired airline on FORTUNE magazine's 2012 airline-industry list of the World's Most Admired Companies. Readers of Global Traveler magazine have voted United's MileagePlus program the best frequent flyer program for eight consecutive years. United is a founding member of Star Alliance, which provides service to 193 countries via 27 member airlines. More than 85,000 United employees reside in every U.S. state and in countries around the world. For more information, visit united.com or follow United on Twitter and Facebook. The common stock of United's parent, United Continental Holdings, Inc., is traded on the NYSE under the symbol UAL.

SOURCE United Continental Holdings, Inc.