United Airlines gives U.S. Olympians a 'send-off' to Rio de Janeiro
The last U.S. Olympians were making their way to Rio de Janeiro on Wednesday, just two days ahead of the official opening ceremonies.
Many of them were flying United Airlines, the official airline of the U.S. Olympic Team.
United Airlines CEO Oscar Munoz was on hand Wednesday night for an official send-off event at Houston Bush Intercontinental, himself giddy and overcome with “overwhelming pride” on being able to meet the USA’s Olympians in person.
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United flies nonstop to Rio from Houston, where it operates one of its largest hubs. The airline also flies to Sao Paulo, offering nonstop flights to Brazil’s largest city from its hubs at Chicago O’Hare, Houston, Newark Liberty and Washington Dulles.
Munoz calls United’s connection to the U.S. Olympic Team – now in its 35th year – a “marvelous” tie-in.
The airline gets to share the spotlight with Olympians that inspire support from the entire nation. But the benefits go even deeper, Munoz says.
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For employees, it can be a morale builder – something workers can rally around as Munoz pushes ahead with his goal to make United a better airline for both employees and its customers.
Munoz, who took over as United’s CEO in 2015, has acknowledged the airline has struggled since its merger with Continental. He’s vowed to tackle those problems head on, including instill a “new spirit” as he tries to revamp the company’s corporate culture.
“It’s so exciting for our employees,” Munoz says to Today in the Sky. “It’s a bit of a patriotic thing along with a good investment in the morale of people. It does generate revenue at some point in time, but that’s not the primary reason.”
Munoz says the Olympic connection can help it with customers too.
“This type of engagement and advertising and the connection with the Olympics, this resonates more,” he says. “Our customers, in a broad general sense, get to participate in that spirit. There’s an affinity, proven time and time again, with your name associated with being a proud sponsor of the U.S. Olympic team.”
At Wednesday’s send-off event, frontline crews and passengers mingled with the athletes before they took off to Rio. Munoz admitted to being a bit awestruck.
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“It’s just amazing the accomplishments you get on that team. All the hard work over many years,” he says.
“And then you get a little celebrity sighting,” he adds, explaining that U.S. tennis stars Venus and Serena Williams passed through Houston a night earlier on their way to Rio.
“They flew out on our plane and I got to meet them,” Munoz says. “They were so warm and sweet. They were just part of the crowd.”
Let the games begin …
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