United Airlines has announced the expansion of its Special Olympics Service Ambassador (SOSA) program to three additional hubs — Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Newark — as part of its ongoing commitment to fostering inclusion and providing meaningful employment opportunities for people with intellectual and physical disabilities. With this expansion, United aims to hire 10 more Special Olympics athletes, bringing the total number of SOSA team members to 28 across all seven of its U.S. hubs.
United’s SOSA program, first launched in Chicago in 2019 during National Disability Employment Awareness Month, is recognized as the airline industry’s only initiative of its kind. It provides Special Olympics athletes with the opportunity for part-time employment, offering full employee benefits while they perform crucial customer service roles. SOSAs assist travelers at check-in kiosks, bag drop areas, and security lines, and also help passengers navigate terminals and use digital service tools after security.
To celebrate the expansion, former San Francisco 49ers star Jerry Rice joined United’s San Francisco team for a special “boot camp” alongside existing SOSAs. “I’ve been fortunate to be part of lots of winning teams and world-class organizations, and it’s a real honor to be part of a program like this that proves greatness comes from giving everyone a shot. What I saw today was dedication, skill, and heart,” said Rice
United Chief Operations Officer and Special Olympics board member Toby Enqvist emphasized the impact of the SOSA program, “Our Special Olympics Service Ambassadors deliver inspiration and an extra set of helping hands while providing friendly, timely service to our customers. They enhance the customer experience in a uniquely United way and help foster more inclusive and dynamic workplaces.”
Beyond the SOSA program, United has a long-standing relationship with Special Olympics through sponsorships, volunteer activities, and events such as plane pull competitions and advocacy efforts on Capitol Hill. Notably, United’s leadership in this space has been reinforced by Enqvist’s 2025 appointment to the Board of Directors for Special Olympics International.
United has also introduced several other initiatives aimed at improving accessibility, including industry-first innovations such as a digital wheelchair sizing tool and Braille labeling in aircraft cabins. The airline has consistently been recognized as a Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion for more than eight years.
United customers can support these initiatives through the airline’s Miles on a Mission program, which allows MileagePlus members to donate miles to Special Olympics and other organizations focused on making travel more accessible and inclusive.
Through these initiatives, United Airlines continues to position itself as a leader in championing diversity, inclusion, and accessibility within the aviation industry.