Global Network Planning Intern

Achieving our goals starts with supporting yours. Grow your career, access top-tier health and wellness benefits, build lasting connections with your team and our customers, and travel the world using our extensive route network.

Come join us to create what’s next. Let’s define tomorrow, together.

Description

There’s never been a more exciting time to join United Airlines. We’re on a path toward becoming the best airline in the history of aviation. We fly over 4,500 flights across 6 continents every day, and we have the largest international route network of any North American airline. We’re growing – in the years ahead, we’ll hire tens of thousands of people across every area of the airline, and we’ll take delivery of hundreds of new aircraft so we can take more people to more places. Our careers include a competitive benefits package aimed at keeping you happy, healthy, and well-traveled. From employee-run "Business Resource Group" communities to world-class benefits like parental leave, 401k and privileges like space available travel, United is truly a one-of-a-kind place to work.  

On United’s Global Network & Alliancesteam, we like to solve puzzles -- from where we fly to when we fly, and even what planes we fly. Our team crafts flight schedules, routes, and partnerships that connect our customers with hundreds of destinations around the world. Our team is part of a Commercial organization in United that designs travel experiences that our customers – and employees – love. Get ready to work on our biggest puzzle when you join the Global Network & Alliances team. 

Key Responsibilities:  

The Global Network & Alliances team includes the areas of Network Planning, Scheduling, Alliances, Strategy/Analytics, and United Express. Interns will complete a project in one of these areas while receiving training and networking opportunities in all areas.  

Network Planning 

• Manage a portfolio of markets by forecasting and executing tactical and strategic recommendations including seasonal adjustments, aircraft changes, and launching new markets 

• Build cross-functional working relationships throughout the commercial organization to align Pricing, Revenue Management, Cargo, Sales, Marketing, and other teams around a unified strategy and improve decision making in all related domains 

• Proactively research, develop and present insights with an owner mentality to senior leadership 

Past Projects 

• Cost analysis at a station, route, and equipment level 

• New market opportunities  

Scheduling 

• Ensure aircraft routing, turn time, and ground time requirements align with United’s operational teams 

• Analyze aircraft flows, turn times, equipment type compatibility at each station, gating constraints, crew availability, and other parameters 

• Optimize United's schedule for profitability and operability while accounting for other stakeholder priorities, including safety, customer service, airport operations, aircraft maintenance, catering, inflight crew, aircraft performance and others 

Past Project 

• Develop widebody schedule tool to help inform United’s detailed scheduling decisions 

Alliances 

• Evaluate global strategic partnership opportunities within our Analysis, Commercial and Operations teams 

• Analyze financial value of partnerships and identify areas to improve revenue and the customer experience 

• Negotiate with existing and potential partners, draft contracts, and coordinate with stakeholders across various departments in the company 

Past Projects 

• Implementation of Customer Care Dashboard 

• Codeshare benchmarking and partnership valuation 

Strategy & Analytics 

• Develop long-term strategic plans for United’s fleet, network, relationships with United Express partners, pilots, and competitive positioning 

• Evaluate and make recommendations to senior leadership on aircraft purchases, retirements, or reconfigurations 

• Create rigorous, data-driven analytical tools to support optimization of schedules, fleeting, and overall capacity levels 

Past Projects 

• Create model to identify aircraft upgauge opportunities in future schedules 

• Gate usage analysis and development of gate use requirements database 

United Express (UAX)  

• Develop various deep-dive analyses and reporting projects across the UAX portfolio, which may include customer, operational, commercial, and financial data  

• Work with UAX functional teams and our UAX Partners to identify and track key initiatives that improve performance 

• Lead problem solving and process improvement activities to help augment and streamline reporting, analysis, and measurement functions across UAX 

Past Project 

• Business case development for potential UAX onboard products 

This position is a hybrid role including a combination of days worked in our Chicago office and remotely. 

United values diverse experiences, perspectives, and we encourage everyone who meets the minimum qualifications to apply. While having the “preferred” qualifications make for a stronger candidate, we encourage applicants who may not feel they check ALL those boxes! We are always looking for individuals who will bring something new to the table!  

Posted from September 1 - September 15, 2026

Qualifications

What’s needed to succeed (Minimum Qualifications):  

• Currently enrolled in a Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree program 

• Exceptional analytical and problem-solving skills 

• Strong verbal and written communication skills and strong interpersonal skills 

• Proven proficiency in Microsoft Office, specifically PowerPoint and Excel 

• Intellectual curiosity, desire to learn, ability to take initiative 

• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States  

Job Posting from September 1, - September 15, 2026

What will help you propel from the pack (Preferred Qualifications): 

• Analytical / quantitative major, e.g., Engineering, natural sciences, economics/business/finance, statistics, mathematics, etc. encouraged 

• Knowledge of Network Planning principles 

• Comfort with SQL, Python, R, VBA, or SAS 

• Experience with Power BI, Tableau, or Palantir Foundry 

• Planned graduation date between Dec 2027 and July 2028 
• Demonstrated understanding of the capabilities and limitations of generative AI tools and the ability to leverage AI effectively to support research, analysis, content creation, and problem-solving. Applies critical thinking to validate AI-generated outputs while adhering to organizational policies related to responsible AI use, data privacy, and security.

The starting rate for this role is $20.00.
The base salary range/hourly rate listed is dependent on job-related, non-discriminatory factors such as experience, education and skills. This position may also be eligible for bonus and/or long-term incentive compensation awards.

You may be eligible for the following competitive benefits: medical, dental, vision, life, accident & disability, parental leave, employee assistance program, commuter, paid holidays, paid time off, 401(k) and flight privileges.

United Airlines is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We recruit, employ, train, compensate, and promote without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, age, veteran status, or any other protected category under applicable law. We provide reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities. To request an accommodation, contact [email protected]