Travelers vs United Airlines: Founders, CEOs and History
Travelers was founded in 1853 by Eliphalet Terry, Henry R. Fitch and is led by Alan Schnitzer. United Airlines was founded in 1926 by Walter T. Varney, William Boeing and is led by Scott Kirby.
Company facts
Travelers
- Founded
- 1853
- Headquarters
- New York, New York
- Current CEO
- Alan Schnitzer
- Employees
- 32,500
United Airlines
- Founded
- 1926
- Headquarters
- Chicago, Illinois
- Current CEO
- Scott Kirby
- Employees
- 113,200
Founders
Travelers
Eliphalet Terry
Eliphalet Terry was a Hartford businessman and insurance executive whom the company lists among its founders. He is associated with Hartford's mid-19th-century insurance community that helped launch Travelers.
Henry R. Fitch
Henry R. Fitch (often credited alongside James G. Batterson) helped found the original Travelers Insurance Company in 1864 in Hartford, Connecticut.
United Airlines
Walter T. Varney
Walter T. Varney founded Varney Air Lines, which won Contract Air Mail Route 5 and flew its first route between Pasco, Washington, and Elko, Nevada, via Boise, on April 6, 1926.
William Boeing
William Boeing formed Boeing Air Transport in 1927 to fly the Chicago-San Francisco air mail route and then, with Frederick Rentschler, created United Aircraft and Transport Corporation in 1929.
CEOs and their tenures
Travelers
- Jay Fishman2004–2015
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Serving as CEO until his tragic death from ALS in 2015, he is universally recognized as the absolute architect of the modern Travelers Companies, deeply cementing its status as a Dow Jones Industrial Average component.
Source - Alan D. Schnitzer2015–present
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Schnitzer joined Travelers in 2007 as general counsel, later ran Business and International Insurance, became CEO in December 2015 and chairman in 2017.
Source - Daniel S. Frey2018–present
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
As CFO, he provides the absolutely critical financial discipline required to navigate the highly volatile property and casualty insurance market.
Source
United Airlines
- Oscar Munoz2015–2020
Former CEO
Munoz handed over to Scott Kirby in May 2020 and served as executive chairman for a transition period.
Source - J. Scott Kirby2020–present
Chief Executive Officer
Under Kirby, United's revenue rose from $15.4 billion in 2020 to a record $59.1 billion in 2025, with premium cabins and MileagePlus as the main growth drivers.
Source
Timeline: Travelers and United Airlines side by side
1853Travelers
Oldest insurance roots date to 1853
Travelers traces part of its history to insurance organizations dating back to 1853, making it one of the oldest names in U.S. insurance.
1864Travelers
Travelers accident insurance roots
The Travelers name became associated with accident insurance in Hartford during the railroad era, laying the brand foundation for later expansion.
1926United Airlines
Varney Air Lines begins
United traces its roots to Varney Air Lines and early air mail service.
1931United Airlines
United Air Lines organized
United Air Lines was formed to manage airline subsidiaries tied to United Aircraft and Transport.
1997United Airlines
Star Alliance founded
United became one of the founding members of Star Alliance.
1998Travelers
Travelers Group and Citicorp form Citigroup
Sanford Weill's Travelers Group merged with Citicorp to create Citigroup. The property-casualty business was spun off again in 2002.
2004Travelers
St. Paul and Travelers merger
The merger of The St. Paul Companies and Travelers created a major property and casualty insurer with greater commercial lines scale.
2007Travelers
Renamed The Travelers Companies
St. Paul Travelers reacquired the red umbrella trademark from Citigroup and adopted The Travelers Companies, Inc. name.
2010United Airlines
Continental merger closes
UAL Corporation completed the Continental merger, later operating under the United brand.
2015United Airlines
Oscar Munoz becomes CEO
Oscar Munoz became chief executive of United in September 2015.
2017Travelers
Simply Business acquisition
Travelers acquired Simply Business, expanding digital small-business insurance capabilities.
2020United Airlines
Scott Kirby becomes CEO
Scott Kirby succeeded Oscar Munoz as CEO in May 2020.
2024Travelers
Corvus Insurance acquired
Travelers completed its purchase of cyber insurance specialist Corvus for about $435 million.
2025Travelers
2025 total revenues reach $48.828B
Travelers reported $48.828 billion in total revenues and $6.288 billion in net income for 2025.
2025United Airlines
Revenue reaches record level
United reported record 2025 total operating revenue of $59.1 billion.
2026Travelers
Canada sale to Definity closes
On January 2, 2026, Travelers completed the sale of its Canadian personal insurance business and most of its Canadian commercial business to Definity for about US$2.4 billion.
2026Travelers
Q2 2026 net income of $2.208B
Second-quarter net income rose to $2.208 billion, with an 83.6% combined ratio and lower catastrophe losses.
2026United Airlines
Q2 2026 revenue up 16%
United reported Q2 2026 revenue of $17.7 billion and raised full-year adjusted EPS guidance to $9-$11 despite nearly $6 billion in added fuel costs.
Acquisitions
Travelers
- Corvus Insurance2024$435M
- Simply Business2017$490M
- The Dominion of Canada General Insurance Company2013Undisclosed
- USF&G1998Undisclosed
Questions about Travelers vs United Airlines
Who is the CEO of The Travelers Companies, Inc. and United Airlines Holdings, Inc.?
The Travelers Companies, Inc. is led by Alan Schnitzer and United Airlines Holdings, Inc. is led by Scott Kirby. Both serve as the top executive responsible for the company's strategy, operations, and financial performance.
When was The Travelers Companies, Inc. founded vs United Airlines Holdings, Inc.?
The Travelers Companies, Inc. was founded in 1853 — 73 years before United Airlines Holdings, Inc., which was founded in 1926. The Travelers Companies, Inc.'s longer operating history gives it a deeper track record but also potentially more institutional inertia compared to the younger United Airlines Holdings, Inc..
How many employees does The Travelers Companies, Inc. have compared to United Airlines Holdings, Inc.?
The Travelers Companies, Inc. employs approximately 32,500 people, while United Airlines Holdings, Inc. employs approximately 113,200. United Airlines Holdings, Inc. has the larger workforce at 113,200 employees, compared to The Travelers Companies, Inc.'s 32,500. A higher headcount does not necessarily imply greater efficiency — it often reflects differences in business model (e.g., manufacturing vs. software).
Where are The Travelers Companies, Inc. and United Airlines Holdings, Inc. headquartered?
Both The Travelers Companies, Inc. and United Airlines Holdings, Inc. are headquartered in United States, meaning they operate under the same primary regulatory and tax environment.
Who founded The Travelers Companies, Inc. and United Airlines Holdings, Inc.?
The Travelers Companies, Inc. was founded by Eliphalet Terry, Henry R. Fitch. United Airlines Holdings, Inc. was founded by Walter T. Varney, William Boeing.
Which company has a longer operating history — The Travelers Companies, Inc. or United Airlines Holdings, Inc.?
The Travelers Companies, Inc. has been operating for approximately 173 years, making it the more established of the two companies. United Airlines Holdings, Inc. has been in operation for around 100 years. A longer operating history often signals greater institutional resilience and brand recognition, though it can also mean slower adaptation to new market conditions.
Figures come from each company's filings and the sources linked beside them. Amounts reported in another currency are shown in US dollars at an approximate rate and marked with ~. Back to the Travelers vs United Airlines overview