Intern - Ops Strategy & Analytics

United Airlines; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 23,000 - 32,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Flight privileges

401(k)

Paid holidays

Parental leave

Employee assistance program

Job summary

United Airlines in Chicago offers internships, co-ops, and early-career opportunities where you’ll work on real projects, build dashboards, analyze operations, and gain hands-on experience within a global network.

Ideal candidates are current undergraduates with strong Excel, SQL, and Python skills, the ability to manage multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment, and clear communication. Starting pay is $20.00/hour, with potential bonuses and flight privileges.

Qualifications

• Strong analytical skills and proficiency with Excel and PowerPoint.
• Experience with SQL and/or Python is preferred.
• Reliable, punctual attendance is essential.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills necessary.
• Strong quantitative and problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to manage multiple projects in a fast-paced environment.
• Solid interpersonal skills and teamwork focus.
• Applicant must be an undergraduate student with expected graduation date.
• Applicant must be legally authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship.

Responsibilities

• Tracking and analyzing operational and customer data from multiple sources to assist with data preparation, reporting, and dashboard development.
• Serve as an internal consultant, providing business analyses to management of various operating divisions.
• Evaluate scheduled block time performance and time between gates.
• Understand factors impacting delays, gate holds, and taxi times.
• Identify and report on competitive performance trends.
• Analyze operational performance and contribute to strategic plans and performance metrics.

Skills

Analytical skills

Microsoft Excel

PowerPoint

SQL

Python

Punctual attendance

Communication skills

Teamwork

Undergraduate student

Education

Undergraduate student

Tools

SQL

Python

Job description

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

At United, we offer internships, co-ops, and full-time opportunities for early career professionals. In any role, you’re a key member of our team, contributing to real projects that help move the business forward while gaining hands‑on experience, growing your professional skill set, and connecting with industry leaders. You’ll also have a chance to build community through our employee‑run Business Resource Groups, participate in industry conferences, and enjoy unlimited standby travel anywhere we fly.

You’ll have the opportunity to work on projects that impact our company’s reliability performance--we carry over 450,000 passengers per day on over 4,300 flights to 350 worldwide destinations.

Throughout the course of the program, interns will be responsible to their respective manager, but there may also be opportunities or projects that have emphasis or travel to other hub or line station cities within our network.

This role requires business intuition, a working knowledge of analytical methods and tools and a passion for delivering insightful, accurate results in support of providing the company an understanding of our operational performance. We are seeking creative, driven and detail‑oriented individuals who enjoy tackling tough problems with data and insights. Individuals who have a curiosity and desire to solve problems are encouraged to apply.

This internship is designed solely to provide you with skill development and valuable work experience. This role will likely not convert to a full‑time position at United at the conclusion of the internship.

Specific projects may include:

• Tracking and analyzing operational and customer data from multiple sources to assist with data preparation, reporting, and dashboard development.
• Serve as an internal consultant, providing business analyses to management of various operating divisions on challenges and opportunities facing the airline.
• Evaluating scheduled block time performance (i.e. time required for a flight to travel between departure and arrival gates).
• Understanding factors impacting current issues such as departure and arrival delays, gate holds, taxi times, etc.
• Identifying and reporting on competitive performance trends.
• Potential assignments include analyzing operational performance, developing strategic plans, establishing performance metrics, evaluation of schedules as relates to operational reliability and providing insights into the customer experience.

Qualifications

What’s needed to succeed (Minimum Qualifications):

• Strong analytical skills/proficient with Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint
• Experience using SQL and/or Python
• Reliable, punctual attendance is an essential function of the position
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Strong quantitative and problem‑solving skills
• Ability to handle simultaneous projects and adapt to a fast‑paced, changing environment
• Solid interpersonal skills with a focus on teamwork
• Applicant must be a current undergraduate student with an anticipated future graduation
• Applicant must be legally authorized to work in the United States for any employer without sponsorship or future sponsorship for a full/part time position

Preferred Qualifications:

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.

Posting dates: September 1, 2026 through September 15, 2026

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 [e-mail]