This is just the thing a loss-making airline that's alienated its employees needs to be concerned with right now. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- This article was sent to you by someone who found it on SFGate. The original article can be found on SFGate.com here: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=3D/c/a/2006/05/11/BUG3RIPBDQ= 1.DTL --------------------------------------------------------------------- Thursday, May 11, 2006 (SF Chronicle) United seeking a new world HQ David Armstrong, Chronicle Staff Writer The parent company of United Airlines, the dominant airline at San Francisco International Airport, is considering moving to a new corporate headquarters, the airline confirmed Wednesday. Reports of a possible move surfaced in Crain's Chicago Business, which said UAL Corp. is considering downtown Chicago, Denver and San Francisco as possible locations. United is headquartered near O'Hare International Airport in suburban Elk Grove Township, outside Chicago. "We are looking at all of our facilities to see where we could benefit from consolidation," said United spokeswoman Jean Medina, who emphasized that no decisions about moving have been made. "Looking at this is something corporations do all the time," Medina said, allowing that UAL -- which spent nearly three years in bankruptcy and has not made a profit since 2000 -- is looking at reconfiguring its physical plants as a way to reduce its operating costs. Medina said UAL has retained the Staubach Co., -- a real estate firm headed by its namesake, former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Roger Staubach. "We would be delighted to have United here in the Bay Area," said John Martin, director of San Francisco International Airport, which United uses as a hub. Martin said he plans to get in touch with the airline to discuss the situation with executives. Martin said United and the Bay Area would be a natural fit. "United is a major employer in the Bay Area, and Asian traffic is the fastest-growing market," Martin said of SFO. Martin also cited the Bay Area's highly educated workforce and its entrepreneurial spirit as additional reasons UAL should consider relocating here. At Local 9 of the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association, which represents United's union mechanics, the local's vice president, Brian McKeenan, said his members had only just become aware of the news and had no information about a move. "I think it is unlikely," McKeenan said. "Executives always complain abo= ut the cost of living here. I've been to their world headquarters. They have a plush arrangement in Elk Grove, with the low cost of living and the cost of gas and so on." Peter Ragone, press secretary for San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, did not immediately return a phone call asking City Hall to comment. United has 53,000 employees, with about 3,500 at its corporate headquarters. The company employs 11,000 people in Northern California, down from 20,000 before the high-tech slump, nationwide economic recession and Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks reduced demand from travelers and curtailed corporate travel budgets. UAL has been headed since autumn 2002 by Glenn Tilton, who lived in San Francisco when he served as a senior executive at Chevron Corp. prior to taking the top job at United. E-mail David Armstrong at davidarmstrong@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx --------------= -------------------------------------------------------- Copyright 2006 SF Chronicle