Brandwave

How popular isUnited Airlines?

In September 2026, people searched for United Airlines by name about 6.1 million times worldwide, about the same as the previous year. These searches made up 19.3% of all global airline brand searches, placing United Airlines first out of ten brands. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about airline brands, United Airlines appeared in three of the five answers and was the fifth most recommended of the ten.

Search and AI answers in September 2026

United Airlines is the most searched of 10 competitors and the fifth most recommended in AI answers.

  1. United AirlinesShare of searches 19.3%Mentioned in 3 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 5th
  2. British AirwaysShare of searches 15.7%Mentioned in 0 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations –
  3. EmiratesShare of searches 12.9%Mentioned in 3 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 6th
  4. Southwest AirlinesShare of searches 12.9%Mentioned in 3 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 4th
  5. Delta Air LinesShare of searches 10.5%Mentioned in 3 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 1st

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Top airline brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, United Airlines was mentioned in three out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. United Airlines is the fifth most recommended of the ten.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Delta Air Lines1st
  2. Qatar Airways2nd
  3. Singapore Airlines3rd
  4. Southwest Airlines4th
  5. United Airlines5th
  6. Emirates6th
  7. Cathay Pacific7th
  8. British Airways–
  9. Qantas–
  10. Air New Zealand–

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • United Airlines3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Emirates3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Southwest Airlines3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Delta Air Lines3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Qatar Airways3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Singapore Airlines3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Cathay Pacific2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • British Airways0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Qantas0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Air New Zealand0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about airline brands

5 answers

Not named in any answer:

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 19, 2026.

Which airline brands compete with United Airlines?

United Airlines against airline brands worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for United Airlines, British Airways, Emirates, Southwest Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Qantas. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthUnited AirlinesBritish AirwaysEmiratesSouthwest AirlinesDelta Air LinesQatar AirwaysSingapore AirlinesCathay PacificQantasAir New Zealand
Oct 202517.9%12%14.6%14.6%9.8%12%6.5%5.3%5.3%2%
Nov 202519.1%10.4%15.6%12.7%10.4%12.7%7%4.7%5.7%1.7%
Dec 202520.1%11%13.4%13.4%11%13.4%6%4.9%4.9%1.8%
Jan 202616.4%13.4%13.4%13.4%11%13.4%7.3%4.9%4.9%1.8%
Feb 202618.1%12.1%14.8%14.8%9.9%12.1%6.6%4.4%5.4%1.6%
Mar 202616.2%10.8%19.7%10.8%8.8%16.2%7.2%4.8%4%1.5%
Apr 202618.8%12.6%15.4%12.6%10.3%12.6%6.9%4.6%4.6%1.7%
May 202618.8%12.6%12.6%15.4%12.6%10.3%6.9%4.6%4.6%1.7%
Jun 202618.8%12.6%12.6%15.4%10.3%12.6%6.9%4.6%4.6%1.7%
Jul 202618.4%12.3%12.3%15%12.3%12.3%6.7%4.5%4.5%1.7%
Aug 202618.6%12.4%12.4%15.2%12.4%10.2%6.8%4.6%5.6%1.7%
Sep 202619.3%15.7%12.9%12.9%10.5%10.5%7%4.7%4.7%1.7%

  1. 1.United Airlines

    19.3%

    Held 1st. 6.1M estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.6 points.

  2. 2.British Airways

    15.7%

    Moved from 3rd to 2nd. 5M estimated branded searches, +22.2% vs prior month. Share +3.3 points.

  3. 3.Emirates

    12.9%

    Moved from 5th to 3rd. 4.1M estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.4 points.

  4. 4.Southwest Airlines

    12.9%

    Moved from 2nd to 4th. 4.1M estimated branded searches, -18.2% vs prior month. Share -2.4 points.

  5. 5.Delta Air Lines

    10.5%

    Moved from 4th to 5th. 3.4M estimated branded searches, -18.1% vs prior month. Share -1.9 points.

  6. 6.Qatar Airways

    10.5%

    Held 6th. 3.4M estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.3 points.

  7. 7.Singapore Airlines

    7%

    Held 7th. 2.2M estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.2 points.

  8. 8.Cathay Pacific

    4.7%

    Moved from 9th to 8th. 1.5M estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.2 points.

  9. 9.Qantas

    4.7%

    Moved from 8th to 9th. 1.5M estimated branded searches, -18% vs prior month. Share -0.9 points.

  10. 10.Air New Zealand

    1.7%

    Held 10th. 550K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.1 points.

Compare popularity between United Airlines and its closest rivals

Every comparison with United Airlines

9 comparisons

How has branded search demand for United Airlines changed worldwide over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for United Airlines worldwide held steady at 6.1M.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, United Airlines’ share of searches among airline brands worldwide increased from 17.9% to 19.3%.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, United Airlines’ share of searches among airline brands worldwide peaked at 20.1% in December 2025 and was lowest at 16.2% in March 2026.

How did search popularity change for airline brands worldwide in September 2026?

6 changes

  1. In September 2026, British Airways overtook Southwest Airlines to rank 2nd among airline brands worldwide, with 15.7% of the searches.

  2. In September 2026, United Airlines gained share of searches among airline brands worldwide, from 18.6% to 19.3%.

  3. In September 2026, Southwest Airlines lost share of searches among airline brands worldwide, from 15.2% to 12.9%.

  4. In September 2026, Delta Air Lines lost share of searches among airline brands worldwide, from 12.4% to 10.5%.

  5. In September 2026, Qantas lost share of searches among airline brands worldwide, from 5.6% to 4.7%.

  6. In September 2026, Emirates rose from 5th to 3rd among airline brands worldwide.

How are United Airlines’ branded searches counted?

1 search term

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using United Airlines’ name. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for this branded term can be used to understand whether interest in the brand is growing, holding steady, or fading.

  • united airlines

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How the Brand Demand Index is measured

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