Denver is on the winning end of personnel moves at United Airlines, which will outsource 600 positions and bring back another 400.

United Airlines will reclaim 175 jobs in Denver that it had outsourced to regional carrier SkyWest Airlines, United spokeswoman Christen David said Monday.

“We are pleased to bring in-house the customer service and the station operations control positions for United Express flights at our Denver hub,” David said. “Where it makes financial sense, we prefer to have United employees do the work.”

David said SkyWest workers in Denver have applied for similar jobs at United Express. About 130 of the openings have been filled so far.

Denver, Honolulu, Phoenix and Dulles in northern Virginia are the airports where United Airlines will restore previously outsourced positions.

But another 600 positions at 12 “non-hub” airports will be handled by contractors going forward.

Those airports include Albuquerque; Buffalo, N.Y.; Charleston, S.C.; Charlotte, N.C.; Columbus, Ohio; Des Moines, Iowa; Detroit; El Paso; Sioux Falls, S.D.; Wichita; Pensacola, Fla.; and Salt Lake City.

The positions include ticket and gate agents and baggage handlers on mostly United Express flights.

“This is a difficult decision, but we need to ensure that our costs are competitive,” David said.

The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers said it negotiated seniority protection for many of the workers if they relocate, and that job losses will be limited.

Chicago-based United Continental Holdings Inc. lost $609 million in the first quarter while rivals Delta and American made money.

United Airlines employs about 87,000 workers overall, including 5,100 at Denver International Airport, where it ranks as the largest carrier.

Aldo Svaldi: 303-954-1410, asvaldi@denverpost.com or twitter.com/aldosvaldi

The Associated Press contributed to this report.