Form 8-K

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15(d) of The

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): January 24, 2013

 

 

UNITED CONTINENTAL HOLDINGS, INC.

UNITED AIR LINES, INC.

CONTINENTAL AIRLINES, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   001-06033   36-2675207
Delaware   001-11355   36-2675206
Delaware   001-10323   74-2099724

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification Number)

 

77 W. Wacker Drive, Chicago, IL   60601
77 W. Wacker Drive, Chicago, IL   60601
1600 Smith Street, Dept. HQSEO, Houston, Texas   77002
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

(312) 997-8000

(312) 997-8000

(713) 324-2950

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code 

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)

 

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

¨ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 

 


Item 2.02 Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

On January 24, 2013, United Continental Holdings, Inc. (“UAL”), the holding company whose primary subsidiaries are United Air Lines, Inc. (“United”) and Continental Airlines, Inc. (“Continental”), and together with UAL and United, the “Company”), issued a press release announcing the financial results of the Company for fourth quarter and full year 2012. The press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.

The information in this Item 2.02, including Exhibit 99.1, is being furnished and shall not be deemed to be “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that Section and shall not be deemed incorporated by reference into any registration statement or other document filed pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.

Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure.

On January 24, 2013, UAL will provide an investor update related to the financial and operational outlook for the Company for first quarter and full year 2013. A copy of the investor update is attached as Exhibit 99.2 and is incorporated herein by reference.

The information in this Item 7.01, including Exhibit 99.2, is being furnished and shall not be deemed to be “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that Section and shall not be deemed incorporated by reference into any registration statement or other document filed pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

Exhibit No.

 

Description

99.1*   Press Release issued by United Continental Holdings, Inc. dated January 24, 2013
99.2*   United Continental Holdings, Inc. Investor Update dated January 24, 2013

 

* Furnished herewith electronically.


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

        UNITED CONTINENTAL HOLDINGS, INC.
        UNITED AIR LINES, INC.
        CONTINENTAL AIRLINES, INC.
    By:   /s/ Chris Kenny
    Name:   Chris Kenny
    Title:   Vice President and Controller
Date: January 24, 2013      


EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit No.

 

Description

99.1*   Press Release issued by United Continental Holdings, Inc. dated January 24, 2013
99.2*   Investor Update issued by United Continental Holdings, Inc. dated January 24, 2013

 

* Furnished herewith electronically.
Press Release issued by United Continental Holdings, Inc. dated January 24, 2013

Exhibit 99.1

 

LOGO

UNITED ANNOUNCES FULL-YEAR AND

FOURTH-QUARTER 2012 RESULTS

UAL REPORTS $589 MILLION FULL-YEAR 2012 PROFIT EXCLUDING SPECIAL CHARGES;

$723 MILLION LOSS INCLUDING SPECIAL CHARGES

UAL REPORTS $190 MILLION FOURTH-QUARTER 2012 LOSS EXCLUDING SPECIAL

CHARGES; $620 MILLION LOSS INCLUDING SPECIAL CHARGES

CHICAGO, Jan. 24, 2013 – United Continental Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: UAL) today reported full-year 2012 net income of $589 million, or $1.59 per diluted share, excluding $1.3 billion of special charges. Including special charges, UAL reported a full-year 2012 net loss of $723 million, or $2.18 per share. UAL reported a fourth-quarter 2012 net loss of $190 million, or $0.58 per share, excluding $430 million of special charges. Including special charges, UAL reported a fourth-quarter 2012 net loss of $620 million, or $1.87 per share.

 

   

UAL full-year 2012 consolidated passenger revenue increased 0.2 percent year-over-year. Consolidated passenger revenue per available seat mile (PRASM) increased 1.7 percent in 2012 compared to 2011.

 

   

Superstorm Sandy reduced fourth-quarter revenue by approximately $140 million and profit by approximately $85 million.

 

   

Full-year 2012 consolidated unit costs (CASM), holding fuel rate and profit sharing constant and excluding special charges and third-party business expense, increased 2.5 percent year-over-year on a consolidated capacity reduction of 1.5 percent. Full-year 2012 consolidated CASM increased 6.7 percent year-over-year.

 

   

UAL ended 2012 with $7.0 billion in unrestricted liquidity.

 

   

Co-workers earned $119 million in profit sharing for full-year 2012, which will be distributed on Feb. 14, 2013.

“I want to thank my co-workers for working together in 2012 as we completed the most difficult aspects of our merger integration,” said Jeff Smisek, UAL’s chairman, president and chief executive officer. “With much of our integration behind us, our significantly improved operational performance and our increasing customer satisfaction, we can now go forward as one company. This year we will continue on our path to becoming the world’s leading airline.”

 

LOGO


UAL ANNOUNCES FULL-YEAR AND FOURTH-QUARTER 2012 RESULTS / PAGE 2

 

Fourth-Quarter Revenue and Capacity

For the fourth quarter of 2012, total revenue was $8.7 billion, a decrease of 2.5 percent year-over-year. Fourth-quarter consolidated passenger revenue decreased 3.6 percent to $7.5 billion, compared to the same period in 2011.

Consolidated revenue passenger miles (RPMs) decreased 3.2 percent on a consolidated capacity (available seat miles) decrease of 4.2 percent year-over-year for the fourth quarter, resulting in a fourth-quarter consolidated load factor of 82.3 percent.

Fourth-quarter 2012 consolidated PRASM increased 0.6 percent compared to the same period in 2011. Consolidated yield for the fourth quarter of 2012 decreased 0.4 percent year-over-year.

Mainline RPMs in the fourth quarter of 2012 decreased 3.7 percent on a mainline capacity decrease of 4.3 percent year-over-year, resulting in a fourth-quarter mainline load factor of 82.5 percent. Mainline yield for the fourth quarter of 2012 decreased 0.9 percent compared to the same period in 2011. Fourth-quarter 2012 mainline PRASM decreased 0.3 percent year-over-year.

“While we didn’t meet our revenue goals in 2012, we have addressed the integration issues that drove our underperformance,” said Jim Compton, UAL’s vice chairman and chief revenue officer. “We’re now positioned to capitalize on market opportunities across our network, and to earn back our share of revenue, based on solid operations and great customer service.”

Passenger revenue for the fourth quarter of 2012 and period-to-period comparisons of related statistics for UAL’s mainline and regional operations are as follows:

 

     4Q 2012
Passenger
Revenue

(millions)
     Passenger
Revenue vs.

4Q 2011
    PRASM vs.
4Q 2011
    Yield vs.
4Q 2011
    Available
Seat Miles
vs.

4Q 2011
 

Domestic

   $ 2,953         (6.2 %)      (1.8 %)      (1.9 %)      (4.5 %) 

Atlantic

     1,214         (7.5 %)      (0.3 %)      (0.3 %)      (7.2 %) 

Pacific

     1,156         4.1     5.9     3.8     (1.7 %) 

Latin America

     590         (5.4 %)      (4.2 %)      (6.5 %)      (1.3 %) 
  

 

 

          

International

     2,960         (2.8 %)      1.3     0.0     (4.1 %) 

Mainline

     5,913         (4.6 %)      (0.3 %)      (0.9 %)      (4.3 %) 

Regional

     1,620         0.0     3.7     0.4     (3.6 %) 
  

 

 

          

Consolidated

   $ 7,533         (3.6 %)      0.6     (0.4 %)      (4.2 %) 

Year-over-year cargo and other revenue in the fourth quarter of 2012 increased 5.0 percent, or $56 million, to $1.2 billion.


UAL ANNOUNCES FULL-YEAR AND FOURTH-QUARTER 2012 RESULTS / PAGE 3

 

Fourth-Quarter Costs

Total operating expenses, excluding special charges, increased $94 million, or 1.1 percent, in the fourth quarter versus the same period in 2011. Including special charges, fourth-quarter total operating expenses increased $284 million, or 3.2 percent, year-over-year. Third-party business expense was $118 million in the fourth quarter.

Consolidated and mainline CASM, excluding special charges and third-party business expense, increased 4.8 percent and 5.0 percent, respectively, in the fourth quarter of 2012 compared to the same period of 2011. Fourth-quarter consolidated and mainline CASM, including special charges, increased 7.7 and 8.5 percent year-over-year, respectively.

In the fourth quarter, consolidated and mainline CASM, excluding special charges and third-party business expense and holding fuel rate and profit sharing constant, increased 4.8 percent and 4.7 percent, respectively, compared to the results for the same period of 2011.

“While we reported a full-year profit in 2012, these results clearly fell short of our expectations and the return goals we have set,” said John Rainey, UAL’s executive vice president and chief financial officer. “2013 will be an important year for us as we take the necessary steps to create economic value and achieve a sufficient level of profitability.”

Liquidity, Cash Flow and Return on Invested Capital

UAL ended the year with $7.0 billion in unrestricted liquidity, including $500 million of undrawn commitments under a revolving credit facility. During the fourth quarter, the company generated $31 million of operating cash flow and had gross capital expenditures and purchase deposits of $1.0 billion, which included the delivery of 11 aircraft. The company made debt and capital lease principal payments of $270 million in the fourth quarter. For the full year, the company made debt and capital lease principal payments of $1.5 billion, including prepayments. The company’s return on invested capital for the year ended Dec. 31, 2012, was 8.0 percent, below the company’s goal of a 10 percent return over the business cycle.

2012 Events

 

   

For the fourth quarter, United recorded a U.S. Department of Transportation domestic on-time arrival rate of 80.1 percent, exceeding its goal for the quarter. For the full year, United recorded a domestic on-time arrival rate of 77.3 percent and a system completion factor of 98.6 percent. For international flights, United recorded an on-time arrival rate of 73.7 percent. The on-time arrival rates are based on flights arriving within 14 minutes of scheduled arrival time.

 

   

United co-workers earned cash incentive payments for on-time performance totaling $26 million during 2012.

 

   

Pilots ratified a new joint labor agreement for all United Airlines pilots, and flight attendants from the company’s United, Continental and Continental Micronesia (CMI)


UAL ANNOUNCES FULL-YEAR AND FOURTH-QUARTER 2012 RESULTS / PAGE 4

 

 

subsidiaries ratified new labor agreements. United also reached an agreement with technicians from the CMI subsidiary. The company began the joint collective bargaining process with its flight attendants, technicians, dispatchers and airport and reservation agents.

 

   

United introduced its Outperform Recognition Program, awarding cash prizes each quarter to employees for excellence in customer service.

 

   

The company took delivery of six Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners in 2012 and launched its first commercial 787 flight in early November. United also took delivery of 19 Boeing 737-900ERs, and removed from service 19 Boeing 737-500s, one Boeing 757-200 and three Boeing 767-200s. In addition, the company sold or returned to lessors 37 aircraft that had been parked in long-term storage.

 

   

United announced an order to purchase 100 Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft and 50 Boeing 737-900ER aircraft for delivery beginning in 2013. These new aircraft will allow United to replace older, less-efficient aircraft to reduce fuel and operating costs, enhance the customer experience and maximize network opportunities.

 

   

UAL raised $2.2 billion of debt financing through multiple issuances of enhanced equipment trust certificates at an average interest rate of approximately 4.5 percent, with each issuance setting new average interest rate lows for this type of security. The debt proceeds are being used to finance the acquisition of seven new Boeing 787-8 and 32 new Boeing 737-900ER aircraft and to refinance the debt relating to three Boeing 737-900ER aircraft delivered in 2009.

 

   

The company expanded its industry-leading global route network, launching nonstop flights to numerous international destinations including Istanbul; Manchester, England; Dublin; Buenos Aires, Argentina; Monterrey, Mexico; San Salvador, El Salvador; Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada; and Doha, Qatar, via Dubai, United Arab Emirates. United also announced new nonstop international flights beginning in 2013 to Taipei, Taiwan; Shannon, Ireland; Paris; Edmonton, Alberta, Fort McMurray, Alberta, and Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada; and Denver’s first service to Asia with non-stop service to Tokyo. The company started 18 new domestic routes in 2012, including the company’s first service to Fairbanks, Alaska; Grand Forks, N.D.; Williston, N.D; and Sarasota, Fla. United also announced eight new domestic markets for 2013 including the company’s first service to Fayetteville, N.C. and Santa Fe, N.M.

 

   

United opened its new Network Operations Center in downtown Chicago with leading technology and tools for employees who manage the 24/7 global operation.


UAL ANNOUNCES FULL-YEAR AND FOURTH-QUARTER 2012 RESULTS / PAGE 5

 

   

United converted to a single passenger service system, launched a single website, united.com, and a single loyalty program, MileagePlus, and made policy and procedure changes to become a single airline for its customers.

 

   

The company continued to install flat-bed seats in premium cabins on its international fleet and now has the new seats on 176 aircraft, more than any other U.S. carrier.

 

   

United continued to install Economy Plus seating, and it is now on 91 percent of the mainline fleet.

 

   

The company began installing global satellite-based Wi-Fi on its mainline fleet and expects to have more than 300 aircraft equipped with Wi-Fi by the end of 2013.

 

   

United and Chase launched the premium MileagePlus Club co-brand card, building on the strong performance of the MileagePlus Explorer card launched in 2011.

About United

United Airlines and United Express operate an average of 5,472 flights a day to 381 airports across six continents. In 2012, United and United Express carried more passenger traffic than any other airline in the world and operated nearly two million flights carrying 140 million customers. United is investing in upgrading its onboard products and now offers more flat-bed seats in its premium cabins and more extra-legroom economy-class seating than any airline in North America. In 2013, United became the first U.S.-based international carrier to offer satellite-based Wi-Fi on long-haul overseas routes. The airline also features DIRECTV® on nearly 200 aircraft, offering customers more live television access than any other airline in the world. United operates more than 700 mainline aircraft and has made large-scale investments in its fleet. In 2013, United will continue to modernize its fleet by taking delivery of more than two dozen new Boeing aircraft. The company expanded its industry-leading global route network in 2012, launching nine new international and 18 new domestic routes. Readers of Global Traveler magazine have voted United’s MileagePlus program the best frequent flyer program for nine consecutive years. United is a founding member of Star Alliance, which provides service to 194 countries via 27 member airlines. More than 85,000 United employees reside in every U.S. state and in countries around the world. For more information, visit united.com or follow United on Twitter and Facebook. The common stock of United’s parent, United Continental Holdings, Inc., is traded on the NYSE under the symbol UAL.

Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Certain statements included in this release are forward-looking and thus reflect our current expectations and beliefs with respect to certain current and future events and financial performance. Such forward-looking statements are and will be subject to many risks and uncertainties relating to our operations and business environment that may cause actual results to differ materially from any future results expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements. Words such as


UAL ANNOUNCES FULL-YEAR AND FOURTH-QUARTER 2012 RESULTS / PAGE 6

 

“expects,” “will,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “indicates,” “believes,” “forecast,” “guidance,” “outlook” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Additionally, forward-looking statements include statements which do not relate solely to historical facts, such as statements which identify uncertainties or trends, discuss the possible future effects of current known trends or uncertainties, or which indicate that the future effects of known trends or uncertainties cannot be predicted, guaranteed or assured. All forward-looking statements in this release are based upon information available to us on the date of this release. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, changed circumstances or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. Our actual results could differ materially from these forward-looking statements due to numerous factors including, without limitation, the following: our ability to comply with the terms of our various financing arrangements; the costs and availability of financing; our ability to maintain adequate liquidity; our ability to execute our operational plans; our ability to control our costs, including realizing benefits from our resource optimization efforts, cost reduction initiatives and fleet replacement programs; our ability to utilize our net operating losses; our ability to attract and retain customers; demand for transportation in the markets in which we operate; an outbreak of a disease that affects travel demand or travel behavior; demand for travel and the impact that global economic conditions have on customer travel patterns; excessive taxation and the inability to offset future taxable income; general economic conditions (including interest rates, foreign currency exchange rates, investment or credit market conditions, crude oil prices, costs of aviation fuel and energy refining capacity in relevant markets); our ability to cost-effectively hedge against increases in the price of aviation fuel; any potential realized or unrealized gains or losses related to fuel or currency hedging programs; the effects of any hostilities, act of war or terrorist attack; the ability of other air carriers with whom we have alliances or partnerships to provide the services contemplated by the respective arrangements with such carriers; the costs and availability of aviation and other insurance; the costs associated with security measures and practices; industry consolidation or changes in airline alliances; competitive pressures on pricing and on demand; our capacity decisions and the capacity decisions of our competitors; U.S. or foreign governmental legislation, regulation and other actions (including open skies agreements and environmental regulations); labor costs; our ability to maintain satisfactory labor relations and the results of the collective bargaining agreement process with our union groups; any disruptions to operations due to any potential actions by our labor groups; weather conditions; the possibility that expected merger synergies will not be realized or will not be realized within the expected time period; and other risks and uncertainties set forth under Item 1A., Risk Factors of our Annual Report on Form 10-K, as well as other risks and uncertainties set forth from time to time in the reports we file with the SEC. Consequently, forward-looking statements should not be regarded as representations or warranties by us that such matters will be realized.

-tables attached-


UAL ANNOUNCES FULL-YEAR AND FOURTH-QUARTER 2012 RESULTS / PAGE 7

 

UNITED CONTINENTAL HOLDINGS, INC.

STATEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATED OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED)

THREE MONTHS AND YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2012 AND 2011

 

     Three Months Ended
December  31,
    %
Increase/
(Decrease)
    Year Ended
December 31,
    %
Increase/
(Decrease)
 
(In millions, except per share data)    2012     2011       2012     2011    

Operating revenue:

            

Passenger:

            

Mainline

   $ 5,913      $ 6,195        (4.6   $ 25,804      $ 25,975        (0.7

Regional

     1,620        1,620        —          6,779        6,536        3.7   
  

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total passenger revenue

     7,533        7,815        (3.6     32,583        32,511        0.2   

Cargo

     243        285        (14.7     1,018        1,167        (12.8

Special revenue item (C)

     —          —          NM        —          107        NM   

Other

     926        828        11.8        3,551        3,325        6.8   
  

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total operating revenue

     8,702        8,928        (2.5     37,152        37,110        0.1   
  

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Operating expenses:

            

Aircraft fuel (A)

     3,095        3,105        (0.3     13,138        12,375        6.2   

Salaries and related costs

     1,986        1,910        4.0        7,945        7,652        3.8   

Regional capacity purchase (B)

     583        596        (2.2     2,470        2,403        2.8   

Landing fees and other rent

     453        477        (5.0     1,929        1,928        0.1   

Aircraft maintenance materials and outside repairs

     452        414        9.2        1,760        1,744        0.9   

Depreciation and amortization

     385        390        (1.3     1,522        1,547        (1.6

Distribution expenses

     314        333        (5.7     1,352        1,435        (5.8

Aircraft rent

     246        249        (1.2     993        1,009        (1.6

Special charges (C)

     439        249        NM        1,323        592        NM   

Other operating expenses

     1,214        1,160        4.7        4,681        4,603        1.7   
  

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total operating expenses

     9,167        8,883        3.2        37,113        35,288        5.2   
  

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Operating income (loss)

     (465     45        NM        39        1,822        (97.9

Nonoperating income (expense):

            

Interest expense

     (204     (218     (6.4     (835     (949     (12.0

Interest capitalized

     11        8        37.5        37        32        15.6   

Interest income

     7        5        40.0        23        20        15.0   

Miscellaneous, net

     19        14        35.7        12        (80     NM   
  

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total nonoperating expense

     (167     (191     (12.6     (763     (977     (21.9
  

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Income (loss) before income taxes

     (632     (146     332.9        (724     845        NM   

Income tax expense (benefit) (D)

     (12     (8     50.0        (1     5        NM   
  

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Net income (loss)

   $ (620   $ (138     349.3      $ (723   $ 840        NM   
  

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Earnings (loss) per share, basic

   $ (1.87   $ (0.42     345.2      $ (2.18   $ 2.54        NM   
  

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Earnings (loss) per share, diluted

   $ (1.87   $ (0.42     345.2      $ (2.18   $ 2.26        NM   
  

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Weighted average shares, basic

     331        330        0.3        331        329        0.6   

Weighted average shares, diluted

     331        330        0.3        331        383        (13.6

NM Not meaningful


UAL ANNOUNCES FULL-YEAR AND FOURTH-QUARTER 2012 RESULTS / PAGE 8

 

UNITED CONTINENTAL HOLDINGS, INC.

CONSOLIDATED NOTES (UNAUDITED)

 

(A) UAL’s results of operations include fuel expense for both mainline and regional operations.

 

     Three Months Ended
December 31,
    %
Increase/
(Decrease)
    Year Ended
December 31,
    %
Increase/
(Decrease)
 
(In millions, except per gallon)    2012     2011       2012     2011    

Total mainline fuel expense excluding hedge impacts

   $ 2,481      $ 2,490        (0.4   $ 10,572      $ 10,439        1.3   

Hedge gains (losses) reported in fuel expense (a)

     (34     (23     NM        (141     503        NM   
  

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total mainline fuel expense

     2,515        2,513        0.1        10,713        9,936        7.8   

Regional fuel expense

     580        592        (2.0     2,425        2,439        (0.6
  

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Consolidated fuel expense

     3,095        3,105        (0.3     13,138        12,375        6.2   

Settled hedge gains (losses) not recorded in fuel expense (b)

     —          20        NM        (1     (60     NM   
  

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Fuel expense including all gains (losses) from settled hedges

     3,095        3,085        0.3        13,139        12,435        5.7   

Hedge non-cash mark-to-market gains (c)

     29        8        NM        38        1        NM   
  

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Fuel expense including all hedge impacts

   $ 3,066      $ 3,077        (0.4   $ 13,101      $ 12,434        5.4   
  

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Mainline fuel consumption (gallons)

     764        789        (3.2     3,275        3,303        (0.8

Mainline average aircraft fuel price per gallon excluding hedge impacts (cents)

     324.7        315.6        2.9        322.8        316.0        2.2   

Mainline average aircraft fuel price per gallon (cents)

     329.2        318.5        3.4        327.1        300.8        8.7   

Mainline average aircraft fuel price per gallon including all gains (losses) from settled hedges (cents)

     329.2        316.0        4.2        327.1        302.6        8.1   

Mainline average aircraft fuel price per gallon including all hedge impacts (cents)

     325.4        315.0        3.3        326.0        302.6        7.7   

Regional fuel consumption (gallons)

     181        180        0.6        741        735        0.8   

Regional average aircraft fuel price per gallon (cents)

     320.4        328.9        (2.6     327.3        331.8        (1.4

Consolidated consumption (gallons)

     945        969        (2.5     4,016        4,038        (0.5

Consolidated average aircraft fuel price per gallon excluding hedge impacts (cents)

     323.9        318.1        1.8        323.6        318.9        1.5   

Consolidated average aircraft fuel price per gallon (cents)

     327.5        320.4        2.2        327.1        306.5        6.7   

Consolidated average aircraft fuel price per gallon including all gains (losses) from settled hedges (cents)

     327.5        318.4        2.9        327.2        307.9        6.3   

Consolidated average aircraft fuel price per gallon including all hedge impacts (cents)

     324.4        317.5        2.2        326.2        307.9        5.9   

 

(a) Includes gains (losses) from settled hedges that were designated for hedge accounting. UAL allocates 100% of hedge accounting gains (losses) to mainline fuel expense.
(b) Includes ineffectiveness gains (losses) and gains (losses) on derivatives not designated for hedge accounting. These amounts are recorded in Nonoperating income (expense): Miscellaneous, net.
(c) Includes ineffectiveness gains (losses) and non-cash mark-to-market gains (losses) on all open hedge positions. These amounts are recorded in Nonoperating income (expense): Miscellaneous, net.

 

(B) UAL has contractual relationships with various regional carriers to provide regional aircraft and turboprop service branded as United Express. Under these agreements, UAL pays the regional carriers contractually agreed fees for crew expenses, maintenance expenses and other costs of operating these flights. These costs include aircraft rent of $163 million and $669 million for the three months and year ended December 31, 2012, respectively, of which $111 million and $52 million is included in regional capacity purchase expense and aircraft rentals, respectively, for the three months ended December 31, 2012 and $461 million and $208 million is included in regional capacity purchase expense and aircraft rentals, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2012 in our Statements of Consolidated Operations.


UAL ANNOUNCES FULL-YEAR AND FOURTH-QUARTER 2012 RESULTS / PAGE 9

 

UNITED CONTINENTAL HOLDINGS, INC.

CONSOLIDATED NOTES (UNAUDITED)

 

(C) Special items include the following:

 

     Three Months Ended     Year Ended  
     December 31,     December 31,  
(In millions)    2012     2011     2012     2011  

Revenue - Chase co-branded marketing agreement modification

   $ —        $ —        $ —        $ 107   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Integration-related costs

     408        170        739        517   

Intangible asset impairment

     24        4        30        4   

Labor agreement costs

     21        —          475        —     

Voluntary severance and benefits

     —          —          125        —     

Termination of a maintenance service contract

     —          58        —          58   

Gains on sales of assets and other special charges, net

     (14     17        (46     13   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total special charges

     439        249        1,323        592   

Total special items

     439        249        1,323        485   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income tax benefit

     (9     (2     (11     (2
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Special items, net of tax

   $ 430      $ 247      $ 1,312      $ 483   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

2012 - Special items

Integration-related costs: Includes compensation costs related to systems integration and training, costs to repaint aircraft and other branding activities, costs to write-off or accelerate depreciation on systems and facilities that are no longer used or planned to be used for significantly shorter periods, relocation costs for employees and severance primarily associated with administrative headcount reductions. In addition, on June 30, 2012 UAL became obligated under an indenture to issue to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (“PBGC”), no later than Feb. 14, 2013, $62.5 million aggregate principal amount of 8% Contingent Senior Unsecured Notes. UAL recorded a liability of approximately $48 million for the fair value of that obligation. The company classified the liability as an integration-related cost since the financial results of UAL, excluding Continental’s results, would not have resulted in a financial triggering event under the 8% Notes indenture. In addition, on Dec. 31, 2012, the company entered into an agreement with the PBGC providing for, among other things, the replacement of (i) the company’s contingent obligation to issue up to $500 million principal amount of 8% Contingent Senior Notes if certain financial triggers were met, of which $188 million had been incurred as of Dec. 31, 2012, with $400 million principal amount of new 8% Notes due 2024 and (ii) the $652 million outstanding of the company’s 6% Senior Notes due 2031 with $326 million principal amount of new 6% Notes due 2026 and $326 million principal amount of new 6% Notes due 2028. The company is treating the substitution of the obligations outstanding on Dec. 31, 2012 as an extinguishment of such debt. The resulting charge of $309 million represents the fair value of the additional $212 million of 8% Notes that we agreed to issue and the change in the fair value of the other new 6% Notes and 8% Notes versus their previous carrying values. The company categorized the expense as an integration-related charge because the note restructuring would not have occurred if it were not for the merger.

Intangible Asset Impairment: In the first quarter of 2012, the company recorded a $6 million impairment charge on an intangible asset related to certain take-off and landing slots to reflect the discontinuance of one of the frequencies on an international route. In the fourth quarter of 2012, the company recorded an impairment charge of $24 million related to foreign take-off and landing slots to reflect the estimated fair value of these assets as part of our annual impairment test of indefinite-lived intangible assets. Reductions of frequencies and weakening of the U.S. dollar against certain foreign currencies attributed to the charge.

Labor Agreement Costs: On Aug. 3, 2012, the company announced it had reached an agreement in principle with respect to a new joint collective bargaining agreement with the Air Line Pilots Association (“ALPA”), representing pilots at United and Continental. The company recorded $454 million of expense in the third quarter associated with lump sum cash payments that would be made in conjunction with the ratification of the contract and the completion of the integrated pilot seniority list. This charge also includes costs associated with changes to existing pilot disability plans negotiated in connection with the agreement in principle. The lump sum payments are not in lieu of future pay increases and were accrued in the third quarter as a result of the payments becoming probable, primarily due to reaching the agreement in principle. The agreement was ratified in the fourth quarter of 2012. In the fourth quarter of 2012, the company accrued an additional $21 million associated with the agreement.

Voluntary severance and benefits: In the first quarter of 2012, the company recorded $49 million associated with two voluntary employee programs. In one program, approximately 400 mechanics offered to retire early in exchange for a cash severance payment that was based on the number of years of service the employee had accumulated. The other program is a voluntary company-offered leave of absence that approximately 1,800 flight attendants accepted, which allows for continued medical coverage during the leave of absence period. In the second quarter of 2012, the company recorded $76 million associated with a voluntary severance program. Approximately 1,300 flight attendants volunteered to retire early in exchange for a cash severance payment that was based on the number of years of service each employee had accumulated.

Gains on sales of assets and other special charges, net: In the first quarter of 2012, the company sold six aircraft and its interest in a crew hotel in Hawaii. The company also made adjustments to legal reserves. In the second quarter of 2012, the company sold three aircraft, realizing a net gain of $7 million. In the fourth quarter of 2012, the company sold three aircraft realizing a net gain of $14 million.


UAL ANNOUNCES FULL-YEAR AND FOURTH-QUARTER 2012 RESULTS / PAGE 10

 

2011 - Special items

Special Revenue Item: UAL, United, Continental and Mileage Plus Holdings, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of United, executed an Amended and Restated Co-Branded Card Marketing Services Agreement (the Co-Brand Agreement) with Chase Bank USA, N.A. (Chase) in June 2011, through which the company sells mileage credits to Chase and the company’s loyalty program members accrue frequent flyer miles for making purchases using credit cards issued by Chase. The Co-Brand Agreement modifies and combines the previously existing co-branded agreements between Chase and each of United and Continental, respectively. As a result of the execution of the Co-Brand Agreement, revenues received as part of this agreement are subject to Accounting Standards Update 2009-13, “Multiple-Deliverable Revenue Arrangements – a consensus of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force” (ASU 2009-13), adopted by the company on Jan. 1, 2011, which is applied to all contracts entered into or materially modified after the adoption date of the accounting standard. The application of the new accounting standard to the Co-Brand Agreement, which was determined to be a material modification of the previously existing co-branded agreements, decreases the value of the air transportation deliverables related to the agreement that the company records as deferred revenue (and ultimately Passenger Revenue when redeemed awards are flown) and increases the value of the marketing-related deliverables recorded in Other Revenue at the time these marketing-related deliverables are provided. The provisions of ASU 2009-13 require that existing deferred revenue be adjusted retroactively to reflect the value of the undelivered air transportation deliverables at the date of the contract modification. As a result, the company recorded a retroactive, one-time non-cash income adjustment to revenue of $107 million in the second quarter of 2011.

Integration-related costs: Integration-related costs include compensation costs related to systems integration and training, costs to repaint aircraft and other branding activities, costs to write-off or accelerate depreciation on systems and facilities that are no longer used or planned to be used for significantly shorter periods, and severance primarily associated with administrative headcount reductions. In addition, the company recorded a liability of $49 million in the second quarter for the cost of one tranche of PBGC Contingent Senior Unsecured Notes. In addition, UAL recorded a liability of approximately $39 million in the fourth quarter for the cost of an additional tranche of PBGC Contingent Senior Unsecured Notes. The company classified the PBGC liabilities as integration-related costs since the financial results of UAL, excluding Continental’s results, would not have resulted in a triggering events under the 8% Notes indenture.

Gains on sales of assets and other special charges, net: Other special charges for the three months and year ended December 31, 2011 include costs to terminate a maintenance service contract early, adjustments to reserves for certain legal matters and gains and losses on the disposal of aircraft.

 

(D) No federal income tax expense was recognized related to our pretax income for the year ended December 31, 2011 due to the utilization of book net operating loss carry forwards for which no benefit has previously been recognized. We are required to provide a valuation allowance for our deferred tax assets in excess of deferred tax liabilities because UAL concluded that it is more likely than not that such deferred tax assets will ultimately not be realized. As a result, pre-tax losses for the three months ended December 31, 2012 and 2011 and the year ended December 31, 2012 were not reduced by any tax benefits.


UAL ANNOUNCES FULL-YEAR AND FOURTH-QUARTER 2012 RESULTS / PAGE 11

 

UNITED CONTINENTAL HOLDINGS, INC.

STATISTICS

 

    Three Months Ended
December 31,
          Year Ended
December 31,
       
      %
Increase/
(Decrease)
      %
Increase/
(Decrease)
 
    2012     2011       2012     2011    

Mainline:

           

Passengers (thousands)

    21,811        22,960        (5.0     93,595        96,360        (2.9

Revenue passenger miles (millions)

    41,555        43,130        (3.7     179,416        181,763        (1.3

Available seat miles (millions)

    50,376        52,636        (4.3     216,330        219,437        (1.4

Cargo ton miles (millions)

    601        661        (9.1     2,460        2,646        (7.0

Passenger load factor:

           

Mainline

    82.5     81.9     0.6 pts.      82.9     82.8     0.1 pts. 

Domestic

    84.3     84.2     0.1 pts.      84.9     85.1     (0.2 )pts. 

International

    80.6     79.5     1.1 pts.      80.9     80.5     0.4 pts. 

Passenger revenue per available seat mile (cents)

    11.74        11.77        (0.3     11.93        11.84        0.8   

Average yield per revenue passenger mile (cents)

    14.23        14.36        (0.9     14.38        14.29        0.6   

Average fare per passenger

  $ 271.10      $ 269.82        0.5      $ 275.70      $ 269.56        2.3   

Cost per available seat mile (CASM) (cents):

           

CASM (a)

    15.06        13.88        8.5        14.12        13.15        7.4   

CASM, excluding special charges (b)

    14.19        13.41        5.8        13.51        12.88        4.9   

CASM, excluding special charges and third-party business expenses (b)

    13.95        13.29        5.0        13.37        12.77        4.7   

CASM, excluding special charges, third-party business expenses and fuel (b)

    8.96        8.52        5.2        8.42        8.24        2.2   

CASM, holding fuel rate and profit sharing constant, excluding special charges and third-party business expenses (b)

    13.92        13.29        4.7        13.03        12.77        2.0   

Mainline average aircraft fuel price per gallon excluding hedge impacts (cents) (c)

    324.7        315.6        2.9        322.8        316.0        2.2   

Mainline average aircraft fuel price per gallon (cents) (c)

    329.2        318.5        3.4        327.1        300.8        8.7   

Mainline average aircraft fuel price per gallon including all gains (losses) from settled hedges (cents) (c)

    329.2        316.0        4.2        327.1        302.6        8.1   

Mainline average aircraft fuel price per gallon including all hedge impacts (cents) (c)

    325.4        315.0        3.3        326.0        302.6        7.7   

Fuel gallons consumed (millions)

    764        789        (3.2     3,275        3,303        (0.8

Aircraft in fleet at end of period

    702        701        0.1        702        701        0.1   

Average stage length (miles) (d)

    1,884        1,850        1.8        1,895        1,844        2.8   

Average daily utilization of each aircraft (hours)

    9:52        10:14        (3.6     10:38        10:42        (0.6

Regional:

           

Passengers (thousands)

    11,444        11,231        1.9        46,846        45,439        3.1   

Revenue passenger miles (millions)

    6,311        6,339        (0.4     26,069        25,768        1.2   

Available seat miles (millions)

    7,790        8,078        (3.6     32,530        33,091        (1.7

Passenger load factor

    81.0     78.5     2.5 pts.      80.1     77.9     2.2 pts. 

Passenger revenue per available seat mile (cents)

    20.80        20.05        3.7        20.84        19.75        5.5   

Average yield per revenue passenger mile (cents)

    25.67        25.56        0.4        26.00        25.36        2.5   

Aircraft in fleet at end of period

    551        555        (0.7     551        555        (0.7

Average stage length (miles) (d)

    540        552        (2.2     542        555        (2.3


UAL ANNOUNCES FULL-YEAR AND FOURTH-QUARTER 2012 RESULTS / PAGE 12

UNITED CONTINENTAL HOLDINGS, INC.

STATISTICS (Continued)

 

     Three Months Ended     %
Increase/
(Decrease)
    Year Ended     %
Increase/
(Decrease)
 
     December 31,       December 31,    
     2012     2011       2012     2011    

Consolidated (Mainline and Regional):

            

Passengers (thousands)

     33,255        34,191        (2.7     140,441        141,799        (1.0

Revenue passenger miles (millions)

     47,866        49,469        (3.2     205,485        207,531        (1.0

Available seat miles (millions)

     58,166        60,714        (4.2     248,860        252,528        (1.5

Passenger load factor

     82.3     81.5     0.8 pts.      82.6     82.2     0.4 pts. 

Passenger revenue per available seat mile (cents)

     12.95        12.87        0.6        13.09        12.87        1.7   

Total revenue per available seat miles (cents)

     14.96        14.71        1.7        14.93        14.70        1.6   

Average yield per revenue passenger mile (cents)

     15.74        15.80        (0.4     15.86        15.67        1.2   

CASM (a)

     15.76        14.63        7.7        14.91        13.97        6.7   

CASM, excluding special charges (b)

     15.01        14.22        5.6        14.38        13.74        4.7   

CASM, excluding special charges and third-party business expenses (b)

     14.80        14.12        4.8        14.26        13.65        4.5   

CASM, excluding special charges, third-party business expenses and fuel (b)

     9.48        9.01        5.2        8.98        8.75        2.6   

CASM, holding fuel rate and profit sharing constant, excluding special charges and third-party business expenses (b)

     14.80        14.12        4.8        13.99        13.65        2.5   

Consolidated average aircraft fuel price per gallon excluding hedge impacts (cents) (c)

     323.9        318.1        1.8        323.6        318.9        1.5   

Consolidated average aircraft fuel price per gallon (cents) (c)

     327.5        320.4        2.2        327.1        306.5        6.7   

Consolidated average aircraft fuel price per gallon including all gains (losses) from settled hedges (cents) (c)

     327.5        318.4        2.9        327.2        307.9        6.3   

Consolidated average aircraft fuel price per gallon including all hedge impacts (cents) (c)

     324.4        317.5        2.2        326.2        307.9        5.9   

Fuel gallons consumed (millions)

     945        969        (2.5     4,016        4,038        (0.5

Average full-time equivalent employees (thousands)

     84.5        82.0        3.0        84.6        81.7        3.5   

 

(a) Includes impact of special charges (See Note C).
(b) These financial measures provide management and investors the ability to monitor the company’s performance on a consistent basis.
(c) Fuel price per gallon includes aircraft fuel and related taxes.
(d) Average stage length equals the average distance a seat travels adjusted for size of aircraft (available seat miles/seats).


UAL ANNOUNCES FULL-YEAR AND FOURTH-QUARTER 2012 RESULTS / PAGE 13

 

UNITED CONTINENTAL HOLDINGS, INC.

NON-GAAP FINANCIAL RECONCILIATION

UAL evaluates its financial performance utilizing various GAAP and non-GAAP financial measures including net income/loss, net earnings/loss per share and CASM, among others. CASM is a common metric used in the airline industry to measure an airline’s cost structure and efficiency. Pursuant to SEC Regulation G, UAL has included the following reconciliation of reported non-GAAP financial measures to comparable financial measures reported on a GAAP basis. UAL believes that excluding fuel costs from certain measures is useful to investors because it provides an additional measure of management’s performance excluding the effects of a significant cost item over which management has limited influence. UAL also believes that adjusting for special items is useful to investors because they are non-recurring items not indicative of UAL’s on-going performance. UAL also believes that excluding third-party business expenses, such as maintenance, ground handling and catering services for third parties, fuel sales and non-air mileage redemptions, provides more meaningful disclosure because these expenses are not directly related to UAL’s core business.

 

     Three Months Ended     $
Increase/
(Decrease)
    %
Increase/
(Decrease)
    Year Ended      $
Increase/
(Decrease)
    %
Increase/
(Decrease)
 
(in millions)    December 31,         December 31,       
     2012     2011         2012     2011       

Operating revenue

   $ 8,702      $ 8,928      $ (226     (2.5   $ 37,152      $ 37,110       $ 42        0.1   

Less: Special revenue item (C)

     —          —          —          NM        —          107         (107     NM   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

Operating revenue, excluding special revenue item

   $ 8,702      $ 8,928      $ (226     (2.5   $ 37,152      $ 37,003       $ 149        0.4   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

Operating expenses

   $ 9,167      $ 8,883      $ 284        3.2      $ 37,113      $ 35,288       $ 1,825        5.2   

Less: Special charges (C)

     439        249        190        NM        1,323        592         731        NM   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

Operating expenses, excluding special charges

     8,728        8,634        94        1.1        35,790        34,696         1,094        3.2   

Less: Third-party business expenses

     118        60        58        96.7        298        235         63        26.8   

Less: Fuel expense

     3,095        3,105        (10     (0.3     13,138        12,375         763        6.2   

Less: Profit sharing programs, including taxes

     (41     23        (64     NM        119        265         (146     (55.1
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

Operating expenses, excluding fuel, profit sharing, special charges and third-party business expenses

   $ 5,556      $ 5,446      $ 110        2.0      $ 22,235      $ 21,821       $ 414        1.9   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

Net Income (loss)

   $ (620   $ (138   $ (482     349.3      $ (723   $ 840       $ (1,563     NM   

Less: Special items, net (C)

     430        247        183        NM        1,312        483         829        NM   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

Net Earnings (loss), excluding special items

   $ (190   $ 109      $ (299     NM      $ 589      $ 1,323       $ (734     (55.5
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

Diluted earnings (loss) per share

   $ (1.87   $ (0.42   $ (1.45     345.2      $ (2.18   $ 2.26       $ (4.44     NM   

Add back: Special items, net

     1.29        0.72        0.57        NM        3.77        1.23         2.54        NM   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

Diluted earnings (loss) per share, excluding special items

   $ (0.58   $ 0.30      $ (0.88     NM      $ 1.59      $ 3.49       $ (1.90     (54.4
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   


UAL ANNOUNCES FULL-YEAR AND FOURTH-QUARTER 2012 RESULTS / PAGE 14

UNITED CONTINENTAL HOLDINGS, INC.

NON-GAAP FINANCIAL RECONCILIATION (Continued)

 

     Three Months Ended
December 31,
     %
Increase/
(Decrease)
     Year Ended
December 31,
     %
Increase/
(Decrease)
 
     2012     2011         2012      2011     

CASM Mainline Operations (cents)

                

Cost per available seat mile (CASM)

     15.06        13.88         8.5         14.12         13.15         7.4   

Less: Special charges (C)

     0.87        0.47         NM         0.61         0.27         NM   
  

 

 

   

 

 

       

 

 

    

 

 

    

CASM, excluding special charges

     14.19        13.41         5.8         13.51         12.88         4.9   

Less: Third-party business expenses

     0.24        0.12         100.0         0.14         0.11         27.3   
  

 

 

   

 

 

       

 

 

    

 

 

    

CASM, excluding special charges and third-party business expenses

     13.95        13.29         5.0         13.37         12.77         4.7   

Less: Fuel expense

     4.99        4.77         4.6         4.95         4.53         9.3   
  

 

 

   

 

 

       

 

 

    

 

 

    

CASM, excluding special charges, third-party business expenses and fuel

     8.96        8.52         5.2         8.42         8.24         2.2   

Less: Profit sharing per available seat mile

     (0.08     0.04         NM         0.06         0.12         (50.0
  

 

 

   

 

 

       

 

 

    

 

 

    

CASM, excluding special charges, third-party business expenses, fuel, and profit sharing

     9.04        8.48         6.6         8.36         8.12         3.0   

Add: Profit sharing held constant at prior year expense per available seat mile

     0.05        0.04         25.0         0.12         0.12         —     

Add: Current year fuel cost at prior year fuel price per available seat mile

     4.83        —           NM         4.55         —           NM   

Add: Prior year fuel cost per available seat mile

     —          4.77         NM         —           4.53         NM   
  

 

 

   

 

 

       

 

 

    

 

 

    

CASM, holding fuel rate and profit sharing constant and excluding special charges and third-party business expenses

     13.92        13.29         4.7         13.03         12.77         2.0   
  

 

 

   

 

 

       

 

 

    

 

 

    

CASM Consolidated Operations (cents)

                

Cost per available seat mile (CASM)

     15.76        14.63         7.7         14.91         13.97         6.7   

Less: Special charges (C)

     0.75        0.41         NM         0.53         0.23         NM   
  

 

 

   

 

 

       

 

 

    

 

 

    

CASM, excluding special charges

     15.01        14.22         5.6         14.38         13.74         4.7   

Less: Third-party business expenses

     0.21        0.10         110.0         0.12         0.09         33.3   
  

 

 

   

 

 

       

 

 

    

 

 

    

CASM, excluding special charges and third-party business expenses

     14.80        14.12         4.8         14.26         13.65         4.5   

Less: Fuel expense

     5.32        5.11         4.1         5.28         4.90         7.8   
  

 

 

   

 

 

       

 

 

    

 

 

    

CASM, excluding special charges, third-party business expenses and fuel

     9.48        9.01         5.2         8.98         8.75         2.6   

Less: Profit sharing per available seat mile

     (0.07     0.04         NM         0.05         0.11         (54.5
  

 

 

   

 

 

       

 

 

    

 

 

    

CASM, excluding special charges, third-party business expenses, fuel, and profit sharing

     9.55        8.97         6.5         8.93         8.64         3.4   

Add: Profit sharing held constant at prior year expense per available seat mile

     0.04        0.04         —           0.11         0.11         —     

Add: Current year fuel cost at prior year fuel price per available seat mile

     5.21        —           NM         4.95         —           NM   

Add: Prior year fuel cost per available seat mile

     —          5.11         NM         —           4.90         NM   
  

 

 

   

 

 

       

 

 

    

 

 

    

CASM, holding fuel rate and profit sharing constant and excluding special charges and third-party business expenses

     14.80        14.12         4.8         13.99         13.65         2.5   
  

 

 

   

 

 

       

 

 

    

 

 

    


UAL ANNOUNCES FULL-YEAR AND FOURTH-QUARTER 2012 RESULTS / PAGE 15

 

UNITED CONTINENTAL HOLDINGS, INC.

RETURN ON INVESTED CAPITAL (ROIC)

 

(in millions)    Year Ended
December 31, 2012
 

Net Operating Profit After Tax (NOPAT)

  

Pre-tax income excluding special charges (a)

   $ 599   

Add: Interest expense (b)

     821   

Add: Interest component of capitalized aircraft rent (b)

     478   

Add: Net interest on pension (b)

     164   

Less: Adjusted income tax expense

     (10
  

 

 

 

NOPAT

   $ 2,052   
  

 

 

 

Effective tax rate

     1.7

Invested Capital (five-quarter average)

  

Total assets

   $ 38,083   

Add: Capitalized aircraft rent (@ 7.0x)

     7,015   

Less: Non-interest bearing liabilities

     (19,607
  

 

 

 

Average Invested Capital

   $ 25,491   
  

 

 

 

Return on Invested Capital

     8.0
  

 

 

 
     Year Ended
December 31, 2012
 

(a) Non-GAAP Financial Reconciliation

  

Loss before income taxes

   ($ 724

Add: Special charges

     1,323   
  

 

 

 

Pre-tax income excluding special charges

   $ 599   
  

 

 

 

 

(b) Net of tax shield

# # #

Investor Update issued by United Continental Holdings, Inc

Exhibit 99.2

 

LOGO   LOGO

 

Investor Update   Issue Date: Jan. 24, 2013

This investor update provides forward-looking information about United Continental Holdings, Inc. (the “Company” or “UAL”) for first quarter and full year 2013.

Capacity

The Company estimates its 2013 consolidated system available seat miles (ASMs) to be between flat and down 1% year-over-year. For the first quarter 2013, the Company estimates its consolidated ASMs to decrease between 4.1% and 5.1% as compared to the same period in the prior year. The Company estimates its first quarter 2013 consolidated domestic ASMs to decrease between 3.5% and 4.5% and consolidated international ASMs to decrease between 4.9% and 5.9% year-over-year.

Non-Fuel Expense Guidance

The Company expects 2013 consolidated cost per ASM (CASM), excluding profit sharing, third-party business expenses, fuel and special charges, to increase 4.5% to 5.5% year-over-year. For the first quarter 2013, the Company expects CASM, excluding profit sharing, third-party business expenses, fuel and special charges, to increase 8.0% to 9.0% year-over-year.

The Company expects to record approximately $120 million of third-party business expenses in the first quarter and $360 million for the full year. Corresponding third-party business revenue associated with these activities is recorded in other revenue.

Fuel Expense

The Company estimates its consolidated fuel price, including the impact of cash-settled hedges, to be $3.27 per gallon for the first quarter and $3.23 for the full year based on the forward curve as of Jan. 18, 2013.

Non-Operating Expense

The Company estimates first quarter non-operating expense to be between $160 million and $190 million. For the full year, the Company estimates non-operating expense to be between $690 million and $740 million. Non-operating expense includes interest expense, capitalized interest, interest income, mark-to-market impact of derivatives not designated for hedge accounting and other non-operating income/expense.

Profit Sharing and Stock-Based Compensation

The Company pays 15% of total GAAP pre-tax profits, excluding special items and stock compensation program expense, as profit sharing to employees when pre-tax profit, excluding special items, profit sharing expense and stock compensation program expense, exceeds $10 million. Stock compensation expense for the purposes of the profit sharing calculation is estimated to be $9 million in the first quarter and $51 million for full year 2013.

Capital Expenditures and Debt and Capital Lease Payments

In the first quarter, the Company expects approximately $580 million of gross capital expenditures and $350 million of net capital expenditures, including net purchase deposits. For the full year, the Company expects approximately $2.5 billion of gross capital expenditures and $1.4 billion net capital expenditures, including net purchase deposits.

The Company expects scheduled debt and capital lease payments and pre-payments to amount to $1.0 billion for the first quarter. This includes $400 million of 9.875% Senior Secured Notes due in 2013 and $200 million of 12.000% Senior Second Lien Notes due in 2013, which will be redeemed on February 1, 2013 at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the notes, plus any accrued and unpaid interest. For the full year, the Company expects scheduled debt and capital lease payments and pre-payments to amount to $1.9 billion.

Pension Expense and Contributions

The Company estimates that its pension expense will be approximately $240 million for 2013. This amount excludes non-cash settlement charges related to lump-sum distributions. The Company made $41 million of cash contributions to its tax-qualified defined benefit pension plans in January 2013. The Company’s remaining minimum funding requirement is approximately $155 million for 2013.

Taxes

The Company currently expects to record minimal cash income taxes in 2013.

Single Legal Entity

The Company continues to progress with the integration of its United and Continental subsidiaries. As part of the integration, the Company plans to merge its United and Continental subsidiaries into one legal entity in 2013.

Advance Booked Seat Factor (Percentage of Available Seats that are Sold)

Compared to the same period last year, for the next six weeks, mainline domestic advance booked seat factor is up 4.6 points, mainline international advance booked seat factor is up 3.5 points, mainline Atlantic advance booked seat factor is down 0.6 points, mainline Pacific advance booked seat factor is up 9.8 points and mainline Latin America advance booked seat factor is up 2.4 points. Regional advance booked seat factor is up 4.2 points.


 

LOGO

Company Outlook

First Quarter and Full Year 2013 Operational Outlook

 

    Estimated 1Q 2013   Year-Over-Year  %
Change

Higher/(Lower)
  Estimated FY 2013   Year-Over-Year  %
Change

Higher/(Lower)

Capacity (Million ASMs)

       

Mainline Capacity

       

Domestic

  24,475 - 24,733   (5.1%) - (4.1%)    

Atlantic

  10,303 - 10,417   (9.6%) - (8.6%)    

Pacific

  9,226 - 9,322   (3.6%) - (2.6%)    

Latin America

  5,686 - 5,743   (0.6%) - 0.4%    

Total Mainline Capacity

  49,690 - 50,215   (5.3%) - (4.3%)    

Regional1

  7,589 - 7,668   (3.6%) - (2.6%)    

Consolidated Capacity

       

Domestic

  31,797 - 32,130   (4.5%) - (3.5%)   137,358 - 138,759   (1.9%) - (0.9%)

International

  25,482 - 25,753   (5.9%) - (4.9%)   108,905 - 109,993   0.1% - 1.1%

Total Consolidated Capacity

  57,279 - 57,883   (5.1%) - (4.1%)   246,263 - 248,752   (1.0%) - 0.0%

Traffic (Million RPMs)

       

Mainline Traffic

       

Domestic

       

Atlantic

       

Pacific

               

Latin America

  Traffic guidance to be provided at a future date

Total Mainline System Traffic

               

Regional System Traffic1

       

Consolidated System Traffic

       

Domestic System

       

International System

       

Total Consolidated System Traffic

       

Load Factor

       

Mainline Load Factor

       

Domestic

       

Atlantic

       

Pacific

       

Latin America

               

Total Mainline Load Factor

  Load factor guidance to be provided at a future date

Regional Load Factor1

               

Consolidated Load Factor

       

Domestic

       

International

       

Total Consolidated Load Factor

       

 

1. Regional results reflect flights operated under capacity purchase agreements and flights operated as part of our joint venture with Aer Lingus in 2012.

(more)

 

2


LOGO

Company Outlook

 

First Quarter and Full Year 2013 Financial Outlook

 

     Estimated 1Q
2013
   Year-Over-Year
% Change
Higher/(Lower)
   Estimated
FY 2013
   Year-Over-Year %
Change
Higher/(Lower)

Revenue (¢/ASM, except Cargo and Other Revenue)

                             

Mainline Passenger Unit Revenue
Regional Passenger Unit Revenue
Consolidated Passenger Unit Revenue
Cargo and Other Revenue ($B)

   Revenue guidance to be provided at a future date

Operating Expense1 (¢/ASM)

                                   

Mainline Unit Cost Excluding Profit Sharing & Third-Party Business Expenses

   14.07 - 14.15    5.2% - 5.8%    13.62 - 13.71    2.3% - 3.0%

Consolidated Unit Cost Excluding Profit Sharing & Third-Party Business Expenses

   14.98 - 15.07    4.6% - 5.2%    14.47 - 14.56    1.8% - 2.5%

Non-Fuel Expense1 (¢/ASM)

                                   

Mainline Unit Cost Excluding Profit Sharing, Fuel & Third-Party Business Expenses

   9.13 - 9.21    9.2% - 10.2%    8.80 - 8.89    5.3% - 6.3%

Consolidated Unit Cost Excluding Profit Sharing, Fuel & Third-Party Business Expenses

   9.69 - 9.78    8.0% - 9.0%    9.33 - 9.42    4.5% - 5.5%

Third-Party Business Expense ($M)

   $120             $360         

Select Expense Measures ($M)

                                   

Aircraft Rent

   $240             $960         

Depreciation and Amortization

   $400             $1,630         

Fuel Expense

                                   

Mainline Fuel Consumption (Million Gallons)

   755             3,210         

Consolidated Fuel Consumption (Million Gallons)

   930             3,940         

Consolidated Fuel Price Excluding Hedges

   $3.26 / Gallon             $3.21 / Gallon         

Consolidated Fuel Price Including Cash Settled Hedges

   $3.27 / Gallon             $3.23 / Gallon         

Non-Operating Expense ($M)

   $160 - $190             $690 - $740         

Income Taxes

                                   

Income Tax Rate

   0%             0%         

Capital Expenditures ($M)

                                   

Gross Capital Expenditures incl. Net Purchase Deposits

   $580             $2,500         

Net Capital Expenditures incl. Net Purchase Deposits

   $350             $1,400         

Debt and Capital Lease Payments ($B)

   $1.0             $1.9         

 

1. Excludes special charges.

 

(more)

 

3


LOGO

Company Outlook

 

Fuel Hedges

As of Jan. 18, 2013, the Company had hedged 43% of its projected fuel requirements for 1Q 2013, 34% for 2Q 2013 and 31% for FY 2013 using three-ways and collars on heating oil, Brent crude oil, aircraft fuel and diesel fuel.

The table below provides a view of the economic impact of the hedge portfolio on the Company’s full year 2013 fuel costs given significant moves (up to +/- 20%) in market prices from Jan. 18, 2013 levels (Brent crude spot price of $111.89 per barrel).

 

     FY 2013 (in $ per gallon)        

Change in Market

Fuel Prices (1)

   Decrease / (Increase) to
Unhedged Fuel Cost (2)
    Hedge Gain /
(Loss) (3)
    Net Decrease  /
(Increase) to Fuel Cost
 

20%

     (0.60     0.08        (0.52

10%

     (0.30     0.06        (0.24

(10%)

     0.30        (0.00     0.30   

(20%)

     0.60        (0.05     0.56   

 

  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(1) Projected using hypothetical fuel curves parallel to the baseline Jan. 18, 2013 curve.
(2) Based on estimated FY 2013 consumption of 3.9 billion gallons excluding taxes and transportation.
(3) Cash gain or loss including premiums on existing hedges as of Jan. 18, 2013.

Fuel Price Sensitivity

The table below outlines the Company’s estimated cash hedge impacts at various price points based on the Jan. 18, 2013 fuel forecast, where the Brent crude spot price was $111.89 per barrel. With the current portfolio, hedge gains/losses are recognized in both Fuel Expense and Non-Operating Expense.

 

Brent Fuel Scenarios*    Cash Hedge Impact    1Q13     2Q13     3Q13     4Q13  
          forecast     forecast     forecast     forecast  

+$40 / Barrel

   Fuel Price Excluding Hedge** ($/gal)    $ 4.21      $ 4.18      $ 4.16      $ 4.11   
   Hedge Gain/(Loss) ($/gal)    $ 0.13      $ 0.10      $ 0.07      $ 0.04   

+$30 / Barrel

   Fuel Price Excluding Hedge** ($/gal)    $ 3.98      $ 3.94      $ 3.92      $ 3.87   
   Hedge Gain/(Loss) ($/gal)    $ 0.09      $ 0.08      $ 0.07      $ 0.04   

+$20 / Barrel

   Fuel Price Excluding Hedge** ($/gal)    $ 3.74      $ 3.70      $ 3.68      $ 3.63   
   Hedge Gain/(Loss) ($/gal)    $ 0.06      $ 0.07      $ 0.07      $ 0.04   

+$10 / Barrel

   Fuel Price Excluding Hedge** ($/gal)    $ 3.50      $ 3.46      $ 3.44      $ 3.39   
   Hedge Gain/(Loss) ($/gal)    $ 0.04      $ 0.06      $ 0.04      $ 0.01   

Current Price

($111.89/bbl)

   Fuel Price Excluding Hedge** ($/gal)    $ 3.26      $ 3.22      $ 3.20      $ 3.16   
   Hedge Gain/(Loss) ($/gal)    $ 0.01      ($ 0.01   ($ 0.02   ($ 0.03

($10) / Barrel

   Fuel Price Excluding Hedge** ($/gal)    $ 3.02      $ 2.99      $ 2.97      $ 2.92   
   Hedge Gain/(Loss) ($/gal)    ($ 0.01   ($ 0.02   ($ 0.02   ($ 0.03

($20) / Barrel

   Fuel Price Excluding Hedge** ($/gal)    $ 2.79      $ 2.75      $ 2.73      $ 2.68   
   Hedge Gain/(Loss) ($/gal)    ($ 0.03   ($ 0.04   ($ 0.03   ($ 0.05

($30) / Barrel

   Fuel Price Excluding Hedge** ($/gal)    $ 2.55      $ 2.51      $ 2.49      $ 2.44   
   Hedge Gain/(Loss) ($/gal)    ($ 0.09   ($ 0.12   ($ 0.10   ($ 0.10

($40) / Barrel

   Fuel Price Excluding Hedge** ($/gal)    $ 2.31      $ 2.27      $ 2.25      $ 2.20   
   Hedge Gain/(Loss) ($/gal)    ($ 0.16   ($ 0.20   ($ 0.16   ($ 0.15

 

* Projected fuel scenarios represent hypothetical fuel curves parallel to the baseline Jan. 18, 2013 curve and are meant to illustrate the behavior of our fuel hedge portfolio at different commodity price points
** Fuel price per gallon excluding hedge impacts, but including taxes and transportation costs

 

(more)

 

4


LOGO

Company Outlook

 

Fleet Plan

As of Jan. 24, 2013, the Company’s mainline fleet plan was as follows:

 

     Mainline Aircraft in Scheduled Service  
     YE 2012      1QD     2Q D     3Q D     4Q D     YE2013      FY D  

B747-400

     23         —          —          —          —          23         —     

B777-200

     74         —          —          —          —          74         —     

B787-8

     5         1        —          1        1        8         3   

B767-200/300/400

     56         (5     —          —          —          51         (5

B757-200/300

     154         (3     (1     (8     (10     132         (22

B737-500/700/800/900

     238         4        (2     6        6        252         14   

A319/A320

     152         —          —          —          —          152         —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Mainline Aircraft

     702         (3     (3     (1     (3     692         (10

As of Dec. 31, 2012, the Company’s regional fleet plan was as follows:

 

     Regional Aircraft in Scheduled Service  
     YE 2012      1Q D      2Q D      3Q D      4Q D     YE2013      FY D  

< 50-seat Aircraft

     32         —           —           —           —          32         —     

50-seat Aircraft

     350         —           —           —           (1     349         (1

> 50-seat Aircraft

     169         3         13         —           —          185         16   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Regional Aircraft

     551         3         13         —           (1     566         15   

Note:

< 50-seat aircraft includes Q200, EMB 120, ERJ-135

50-seat aircraft includes Q300, CRJ 200, ERJ-145

> 50-seat aircraft includes Q400, CRJ 700, EMB 170

Share Count

These share count charts are based upon several assumptions including market stock price and number of shares outstanding. The number of shares used in the actual earnings per share calculation will likely be different from those set forth below.

 

     1Q 2013
(Estimated)
 

Net Income

   Basic Share Count
(in millions)
     Diluted Share Count
(in millions)
     Interest Add-back
(in $ millions)
 

Less than or equal to $0

     332         332       $ —     

$1 million—$36 million

     332         333         —     

$37 million—$62 million

     332         373         4   

$63 million—$112 million

     332         385         7   

$113 million—$300 million

     332         390         8   

$301 million or greater

     332         394         11   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

     1Q 2013
(Estimated)
 

Net Income

   Basic Share Count
(in millions)
     Diluted Share Count
(in millions)
     Interest Add-back
(in $ millions)
 

Less than or equal to $0

     332         332       $ —     

$1 million—$145 million

     332         333         —     

$146 million—$249 million

     332         373         17   

$250 million—$449 million

     332         385         26   

$450 million—$1.209 billion

     332         390         32   

$1.210 billion or greater

     332         394         46   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(more)

 

5


LOGO

 

Non-GAAP to GAAP Reconciliations

Pursuant to SEC Regulation G, the Company has included the following reconciliation of reported non-GAAP financial measures to comparable financial measures reported on a GAAP basis. The Company believes that excluding fuel costs and certain other charges from some measures is useful to investors because it provides an additional measure of management’s performance excluding the effects of a significant cost item over which management has limited influence, and the effects of certain other charges that would otherwise make analysis of the Company’s operating performance more difficult.

 

     Estimated
1Q 2013
     Estimated
FY 2013
 
     Low      High      Low      High  

Mainline Unit Cost (¢/ASM)

           

Mainline CASM Excluding Profit Sharing

     14.31         14.39         13.79         13.88   

Special Charges (a)

     —           —           —           —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Mainline CASM Excluding Profit Sharing & Special Charges (b)

     14.31         14.39         13.79         13.88   

Less: Third-Party Business Expenses

     0.24         0.24         0.17         0.17   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Mainline CASM Excluding Profit Sharing, Third-Party Business Expenses & Special Charges (b)

     14.07         14.15         13.62         13.71   

Less: Fuel Expense (c)

     4.94         4.94         4.82         4.82   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Mainline CASM Excluding Profit Sharing, Third-Party Business Expenses, Fuel & Special Charges (b)

     9.13         9.21         8.80         8.89   
     Low      High      Low      High  

Consolidated Unit Cost (¢/ASM)

           

Consolidated CASM Excluding Profit Sharing

     15.19         15.28         14.62         14.71   

Special Charges (a)

     —           —           —           —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Consolidated CASM Excluding Profit Sharing & Special Charges (b)

     15.19         15.28         14.62         14.71   

Less: Third-Party Business Expenses

     0.21         0.21         0.15         0.15   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Consolidated CASM Excluding Profit Sharing, Third-Party Business Expenses & Special Charges (b)

     14.98         15.07         14.47         14.56   

Less: Fuel Expense (c)

     5.29         5.29         5.14         5.14   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Consolidated CASM Excluding Profit Sharing, Third-Party Business Expenses, Fuel & Special Charges (b)

     9.69         9.78         9.33         9.42   

 

(a) Operating expense per ASM – CASM excludes special charges, the impact of certain primarily non-cash impairment, severance and other similar accounting charges. While the Company anticipates that it will record such special charges throughout the year and may record profit sharing, at this time the Company is unable to provide an estimate of these charges with reasonable certainty.
(b) These financial measures provide management and investors the ability to measure and monitor the Company’s performance on a consistent basis.
(c) Both the cost and availability of fuel are subject to many economic and political factors and are therefore beyond the Company’s control.

Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995:

Certain statements included in this investor update are forward-looking and thus reflect our current expectations and beliefs with respect to certain current and future events and financial performance. Such forward-looking statements are and will be subject to many risks and uncertainties relating to our operations and business environment that may cause actual results to differ materially from any future results expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements. Words such as “expects,” “will,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “indicates,” “believes,” “forecast,” “guidance,” “outlook” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Additionally, forward-looking statements include statements which do not relate solely to historical facts, such as statements which identify uncertainties or trends, discuss the possible future effects of current known trends or uncertainties, or which indicate that the future effects of known trends or uncertainties cannot be predicted, guaranteed or assured. All forward-looking statements in this investor update are based upon information available to us on the date of this investor update. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, changed circumstances or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. Our actual results could differ materially from these forward-looking statements due to numerous factors including, without limitation, the following: our ability to comply with the terms of our various financing arrangements; the costs and availability of financing; our ability to maintain adequate liquidity; our ability to execute our operational plans; our ability to control our costs, including realizing benefits from our resource optimization efforts, cost reduction initiatives and fleet replacement programs; our ability to utilize our net operating losses; our ability to attract and retain customers; demand for transportation in the markets in which we operate; an outbreak of a disease that affects travel demand or travel behavior; demand for travel and the impact that global economic conditions have on customer travel patterns; excessive taxation and the inability to offset future taxable income; general economic conditions (including interest rates, foreign currency exchange rates, investment or credit market conditions, crude oil prices, costs of aviation fuel and energy refining capacity in relevant markets); our ability to cost-effectively hedge against increases in the price of aviation fuel; any potential realized or unrealized gains or losses related to fuel or currency hedging programs; the effects of any hostilities, act of war or terrorist attack; the ability of other air carriers with whom we have alliances or partnerships to provide the services contemplated by the respective arrangements with such carriers; the costs and availability of aviation and other insurance; the costs associated with security measures and practices; industry consolidation or changes in airline alliances; competitive pressures on pricing and on demand; our capacity decisions and the capacity decisions of our competitors; U.S. or foreign governmental legislation, regulation and other actions (including open skies agreements and environmental regulations); labor costs; our ability to maintain satisfactory labor relations and the results of the collective bargaining agreement process with our union groups; any disruptions to operations due to any potential actions by our labor groups; weather conditions; the possibility that expected merger synergies will not be realized or will not be realized within the expected time period; and other risks and uncertainties set forth under Item 1A., Risk Factors of our Annual Report on Form 10-K, as well as other risks and uncertainties set forth from time to time in the reports we file with the SEC. Consequently, forward-looking statements should not be regarded as representations or warranties by us that such matters will be realized.

For further questions, contact Investor Relations at (312) 997-8610 or investorrelations@united.com

 

 

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