United Airlines will establish two new flight-attendant bases at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and Sacramento International Airport in early 2027. Dallas-Fort Worth is expected to open first, followed by Sacramento. The relatively small satellite facilities will support crew staffing and are intended to reduce hotel costs, overnight layovers and commuting for employees who already live in or near the two cities.
United first disclosed plans for two additional bases in early September but did not identify the airports. Flight attendants will be able to apply for transfers, with assignments determined by seniority and available positions. The carrier has not disclosed how many employees will be allocated to either base or provided precise opening dates.
The move changes crew domiciling and staffing arrangements rather than passenger routes or flight schedules. Locally based operating and reserve crews could give United greater flexibility in covering flights from the two airports while reducing the need to position employees from other bases.
The new locations will complement United’s larger flight-attendant bases. Newark is the carrier’s biggest, with nearly 5,000 employees on fixed schedules, followed by San Francisco with about 3,500 and Chicago O’Hare with approximately 2,600. Dallas-Fort Worth and Sacramento will remain satellite facilities rather than new primary hubs.