United Airlines forms new partnership with Space Science and Engineering Foundation (SSEF)

                   United Airlines has announced a new partnership with the Space Science and Engineering Foundation (SSEF) in the UK. Starting in 2025, the airline will be the official flight sponsor for the winning team of the UK Space Design Competition, who will participate at the final of the International Space Settlement Design Competition (ISSDC), held at the NASA Kennedy Space Centre at Cape Canaveral in Florida. As part of United’s partnership with SSEF, the airline will also attend competition events in the UK, offering students unique insights into the aviation industry and the diverse career opportunities available across the sector.   

United’s new partnership with SSEF underscores the airline’s commitment to supporting STEM education and inspiring the next generation of leaders to explore future careers in aviation. With nearly 100,000 employees worldwide, United offers a wide variety of career opportunities within the STEM field ranging from pilots and aviation maintenance technicians, to flight dispatchers and network planners. At London Heathrow Airport in the last decade alone, United has almost tripled the size of its Technical Operations team from over 50 to nearly 150 employees.

The annual UK Space Design Competition is a science, engineering and business challenge, which takes place in universities across the UK throughout the academic year and is designed as a simulation of life in industry. Teams are given a list of requirements for a futuristic space settlement and are tasked with creating a detailed design, which is presented to a panel of judges from industry, academia and business.

 “We are proud to team up with SSEF to inspire the next generation of aviators and leaders,” said Karolien De Hertogh, Director Sales U.K. and Ireland, United Airlines. “Together with SSEF, United is committed to supporting students with exploring futures in aviation and STEM subjects, making sure our business and the communities we serve will be successful for years to come.”

 “We are thrilled to partner with United Airlines and this collaboration marks a significant milestone for our foundation, as it will help to ensure that more students can participate in the prestigious International Space Settlement Design Competition (ISSDC) event in the U.S.,” said Jenny Lyons CEO of SSEF. “We look forward to a fruitful collaboration with United and are confident that this partnership will bring incredible benefits to our students and the broader space science community.” 

United in the U.K.

United Airlines has been serving the U.K. for over 30 years and in 2024 is offering up to 20 daily flights from London Heathrow to its hubs at Chicago O’Hare, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, New York/Newark, San Francisco and Washington D.C. United also offers year-round service from Edinburgh to New York/Newark and seasonal service from Edinburgh to Chicago O’Hare and Washington/Dulles. All flights are conveniently timed to connect at United’s U.S hubs with an extensive network of services to destinations throughout the Americas. 

Founded by Dr. Randall Perry in 2009, the Space Science and Engineering Foundation (SSEF) is a UK-based educational charity dedicated to promoting STEM education. Through a wide range of STEM-focused activities, the SSEF helps students develop the skills and confidence needed to tackle complex science and engineering challenges. The foundation also plays a key role in inspiring the next generation of innovators by encouraging students to pursue careers in the STEM industry, providing them with opportunities to engage with real-world projects, industry professionals, and hands-on learning experiences.

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