Source: Associated Press

CHICAGO (AP) — United Airlines said on Thursday it plans to move its operations center from suburban Chicago to the downtown building that until recently was known as the Sears Tower.

The move will bring 2,800 jobs into the city from Elk Grove Township, near O'Hare Airport. The day-to-day running of the airline happens at the operations center, including plane dispatching and employee scheduling.
 
The earliest United will make the move is late next year. United already moved its headquarters from the same area to downtown two years ago. United now employs some 16,000 people within the city limits, Chairman and CEO Glenn Tilton said.

United said it is not using one-third of the space in Elk Grove Township, and that updating the 50-year-old facility might cost as much as $90 million. Spokeswoman Jean Medina said United plans to sell the building.

Also, the city of Chicago is offering tax incentives, grants and job training programs. United did not disclose the size of the incentives, which still need city council approval.

Shares of United parent UAL Corp. rose 3 cents to $5.95 in afternoon trading.