United starts building US$45 million hanger to serve US-Middle East routes

UNITED Airlines says it has broken ground on its first widebody aircraft maintenance hangar at Washington Dulles International Airport that will act as the airline's principal gateway to the Middle East.

Construction of the US$45 million hangar is expected to be completed in 2013. The 2,322-square metre hangar will enable the airline to perform maintenance simultaneously on two widebody aircraft.

There are 300 technical operation workers at Washington Dulles, with more than 6,000 employees throughout the Washington area.

"Construction of this facility underscores United's investment in our people, our customers, the Washington region and the Virginia economy," said United vice president Kate Gebo.

"With on-going investments in terminal amenities, gate areas, lounges and employee facilities, United continues to shape Dulles into a modern global gateway for customers and United co-workers," she said.

The carrier maintains maintenance hangars at Chicago, Denver, Houston, San Francisco and Los Angeles and is constructing a new widebody hangar at Newark Liberty International Airport.

Since 2010, it has introduced service from Washington Dulles to key international and domestic markets, including one-stop service to Bahrain and Doha via Kuwait and Dubai.

Later this year, flights will begin from Washington to San Salvador and Fort Lauderdale. The airline will launch service to Fayetteville, North Carolina in early 2013.