Vet News: United Airlines announced as official 2017 DoD Warrior Games travel partner

WASHINGTON (21 June 2017) - The 2017 Department of Defense (DoD) Warrior Games is proud to announce United Airlines as the official travel partner of this year’s Games, which will take place June 30 to July 8, in Chicago.

As the official travel partner of the Warriors Games, United will provide roundtrip flights for 200 athletes, staff and family members to travel to and from Chicago for the Games. The airline will host welcome events at the airport for veterans as they travel into Chicago on June 28. United will also serve lunch to athletes and family members with the airline’s Boeing 777 airplane BBQ grill on July 5 and 6.

“At United, a large portion of our 87,000 employees come from so we understand the deep commitment these men and women and their families have made to protect our country,” said Howard Attarian retired Air Force Thunderbird and SVP of Flight Operations at United. “Sponsoring the Warriors Games allows the United family to remain connected to something near and dear to many of us, and that is giving back to our active duty military and veterans who have risked their lives and continue to adjust to life after service.”

United will have employee volunteers at various events from the day the athletes arrive, to the day that they depart. The airline will also have a booth at competition venues including McCormick Place, Soldier Field and United Center for spectators to receive giveaways and promotional items.

United’s support of the Warriors Games comes through its partnership with Fisher House Foundation, known for its network of 72 comfort homes in the U.S. and Europe where military and veterans’ families can stay at no cost while a loved one is receiving medical treatment. The airline has supported Fisher House for more than a decade in various ways, including helping fund Fisher House’s newest home in Houston, which opened in May. The airline also provides airfare for service members and/or their families while they undergo treatment, through Fisher House’s Hero Miles program.

About United

United Airlines and United Express operate approximately 4,500 flights a day to 337 airports across five continents. In 2016, United and United Express operated more than 1.6 million flights carrying more than 143 million customers. United is proud to have the world's most comprehensive route network, including U.S. mainland hubs in Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, New York/Newark, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. United operates 743 mainline aircraft and the airline's United Express Warrior Games Public Affairs Officer: Cmdr. Erik Wells, 304-395-3745 partners operate 478 regional aircraft. The airline is a founding member of Star Alliance, which provides service to 190 countries via 28 member airlines. For more information, visit united.com, follow @United on Twitter or connect on Facebook. The common stock of United 's parent, United Continental Holdings, Inc., is traded on the NYSE under the symbol "UAL".

About the Warriors Games

The DoD Warrior Games is an annual Paralympic-style event designed to showcase the resilient spirit of our nation’s wounded, ill and injured service members and veterans from all branches of the military. Approximately 265 athletes representing teams from each branch of the United States military - Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard – along with athletes from Special Operations Command. Athletes from the United Kingdom and Australia will also participate in the competition. The Games provide a platform to showcase the benefits of adaptive sports and the DoD’s warrior care programs.

For more information, please visit dodwarriorgames.com. Follow the Games on Facebook for the latest updates.

DISCLAIMER: The Department of Defense (DoD) does not officially endorse any private company or sponsor or their products or services.