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): March 8, 2010

 

 

UAL CORPORATION

UNITED AIR LINES, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware		001-06033		36-2675207
Delaware		001-11355		36-2675206
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)		(Commission File Number)		(IRS Employer Identification Number)
77 W. Wacker Drive, Chicago, IL				60601
(Address of principal executive offices)				(Zip Code)

(312) 997-8000

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))

 

 

 

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Item 8.01

Other Events.

On March 8, 2010, United Air Lines, Inc. issued a press release reporting its February 2010 traffic performance. The press release is filed herewith as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 9.01

Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

Exhibit No.		Description
99.1*		Press Release issued by United Air Lines, Inc. dated March 8, 2010

*Filed herewith electronically

 

2

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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.

 

Date: March 8, 2010

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EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit No.		Description
99.1*		Press Release issued by United Air Lines, Inc. dated March 8, 2010

*Filed herewith electronically.

Exhibit 99.1

News Release

Worldwide Press Office:

Tel: 312.997.8640

United Airlines Reports February 2010 Operational Performance

CHICAGO, March 8, 2010 – United Airlines today reported its preliminary consolidated traffic results for February 2010. Total consolidated revenue passenger miles (RPMs) increased in February by 2.1% on a decrease of 5.3% in available seat miles (ASMs) compared with the same period in 2009. This resulted in a reported February consolidated passenger load factor of 78.7%, an increase of 5.7 points compared to 2009.

For February 2010, consolidated passenger revenue per available seat mile (PRASM) is estimated to have increased 17.0% to 19.0% year over year. Consolidated PRASM is estimated to have increased 3.8% to 5.8% for February 2010 compared to February 2008, 2.9 percentage points of which was due to growth in ancillary revenues.

The company estimates that weather related cancellations in February from the severe storms that affected the East coast reduced February revenue by approximately $40 million. In addition, the company estimates a benefit to PRASM of approximately 1.5 points from storm-related reductions in ASMs and the impact of the Lufthansa strike on trans-Atlantic loads.

Storm-related cancellations accounted for 3.5 percentage points of the 5.3% year-over-year decline in consolidated ASMs for the month of February, and are expected to reduce consolidated ASMs for the first quarter 2010 by approximately 1.0 percentage point.

United reported a U.S. Department of Transportation on-time arrival rate of 79.5% in February.

Average February 2010 mainline fuel price, including gains or losses on settled fuel hedges and excluding non-cash, mark-to-market fuel hedge gains and losses, is estimated to be $2.25 per gallon. Including non-cash, mark-to-market fuel hedge gains and losses, the estimated fuel price is $1.64 per gallon for the month.

About United

United Airlines, a wholly-owned subsidiary of UAL Corporation (Nasdaq: UAUA), operates approximately 3,300* flights a day on United and United Express to more than 230 U.S. domestic and international destinations from its hubs in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Denver, Chicago and Washington, D.C. With key global air rights in the Asia-Pacific region, Europe and Latin America, United is one of the largest international carriers based in the United States. United also is a founding member of Star Alliance, which provides connections for our customers to 1,077 destinations in 175 countries worldwide. United’s 46,000 employees reside in every U.S. state and in many countries around the world. United ranked No. 1 in on-time performance for domestic scheduled flights for 2009 among America’s five largest global carriers, as measured by the Department of Transportation and published in the Air Travel Consumer Report for 2009. News releases and other information about United can be found at the company’s Web site at united.com, and follow United on Twitter @UnitedAirlines.

 

*	Based on United’s forward-looking flight schedule for January 2010 to December 2010

 

The United Building, 77 West Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60601

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News Release

 

REVENUE PASSENGER MILES (‘000)*
		February 2010			February 2009			Change
North America		3,929,502			4,084,182			-3.8	%
Pacific		1,518,158			1,405,668			8.0	%
Atlantic		1,012,424			975,398			3.8	%
Latin America		259,552			286,069			-9.3	%
Total International		2,790,134			2,667,135			4.6	%
Total Mainline		6,719,636			6,751,317			-0.5	%
Regional Affiliates		1,098,381			908,220			20.9	%
Total Consolidated		7,818,017			7,659,537			2.1	%
AVAILABLE SEAT MILES (‘000)*
North America		4,859,647			5,295,138			-8.2	%
Pacific		1,869,166			2,027,931			-7.8	%
Atlantic		1,413,483			1,491,646			-5.2	%
Latin America		317,984			400,813			-20.7	%
Total International		3,600,633			3,920,390			-8.2	%
Total Mainline		8,460,280			9,215,528			-8.2	%
Regional Affiliates		1,470,262			1,275,545			15.3	%
Total Consolidated		9,930,542			10,491,073			-5.3	%
LOAD FACTOR*
North America		80.9	%		77.1	%		3.8 pts
Pacific		81.2	%		69.3	%		11.9 pts
Atlantic		71.6	%		65.4	%		6.2 pts
Latin America		81.6	%		71.4	%		10.2 pts
Total International		77.5	%		68.0	%		9.5 pts
Total Mainline		79.4	%		73.3	%		6.1 pts
Regional Affiliates		74.7	%		71.2	%		3.5 pts
Total Consolidated		78.7	%		73.0	%		5.7 pts
REVENUE PASSENGERS BOARDED (‘000)*
Mainline		3,721			3,968			-6.2	%
Regional Affiliates		1,939			1,714			13.1	%
Total Consolidated		5,660			5,682			-0.4	%
CARGO TON MILES (000)*
Freight		130,545			89,891			45.2	%
Mail		14,890			17,182			-13.3	%
Total Mainline		145,435			107,073			35.8	%

 

*	Includes Scheduled and Charter Operations. Regional Affiliates results only reflect flights operated under capacity purchase agreements.

 

The United Building, 77 West Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60601

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News Release

 

REVENUE PASSENGER MILES (‘000)*
		YTD Feb. 2010			YTD Feb. 2009			Change
North America		8,131,250			8,353,560			-2.7	%
Pacific		3,317,035			3,221,679			3.0	%
Atlantic		2,327,575			2,205,628			5.5	%
Latin America		585,626			619,575			-5.5	%
Total International		6,230,236			6,046,882			3.0	%
Total Mainline		14,361,486			14,400,442			-0.3	%
Regional Affiliates		2,225,319			1,825,895			21.9	%
Total Consolidated		16,586,805			16,226,337			2.2	%
AVAILABLE SEAT MILES (‘000)*
North America		10,224,284			10,835,779			-5.6	%
Pacific		3,975,830			4,383,046			-9.3	%
Atlantic		3,128,937			3,199,283			-2.2	%
Latin America		718,226			856,841			-16.2	%
Total International		7,822,993			8,439,170			-7.3	%
Total Mainline		18,047,277			19,274,949			-6.4	%
Regional Affiliates		3,054,808			2,617,519			16.7	%
Total Consolidated		21,102,085			21,892,468			-3.6	%
LOAD FACTOR*
North America		79.5	%		77.1	%		2.4 pts
Pacific		83.4	%		73.5	%		9.9 pts
Atlantic		74.4	%		68.9	%		5.5 pts
Latin America		81.5	%		72.3	%		9.2 pts
Total International		79.6	%		71.7	%		7.9 pts
Total Mainline		79.6	%		74.7	%		4.9 pts
Regional Affiliates		72.8	%		69.8	%		3.0 pts
Total Consolidated		78.6	%		74.1	%		4.5 pts
REVENUE PASSENGERS BOARDED (‘000)*
Mainline		7,745			8,188			-5.4	%
Regional Affiliates		3,960			3,444			15.0	%
Total Consolidated		11,705			11,632			0.6	%
CARGO TON MILES (000)*
Freight		254,032			178,263			42.5	%
Mail		32,526			35,757			-9.0	%
Total Mainline		286,558			214,020			33.9	%

 

*	Includes Scheduled and Charter Operations. Regional Affiliates results only reflect flights operated under capacity purchase agreements.

 

The United Building, 77 West Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60601

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News Release

 

GAAP To Non-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. Since the Company does not apply cash flow hedge accounting, the Company believes that the net fuel hedge adjustments provide management and investors with a better perspective of its performance and comparison to its peers because the adjustments reflect the economic fuel cost during the periods presented and many of our peers apply cash flow hedge accounting.

 

		February 2010
Mainline fuel price per gallon excluding non-cash, net mark-to-market gains and losses		$	2.25
Add: Non-cash, net mark to market (gains) and losses per gallon			(0.61	)
Mainline fuel price per gallon		$	1.64

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 “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. 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 amended credit facility and other 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 the economic recession has on customer travel patterns; the increasing reliance on enhanced video-conferencing and other technology as a means of conducting virtual meetings; 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 or other insurance; the costs associated with security measures and practices; industry consolidation; competitive pressures on pricing and on demand; capacity decisions of United and/or our competitors; U.S. or foreign governmental legislation, regulation and other actions (including open skies agreements); 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; and other risks and uncertainties set forth under the caption “Risk Factors” in Item 1A. of the 2009 Annual Report, as well as other risks and uncertainties set forth from time to time in the reports we file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Consequently, forward-looking statements should not be regarded as representations or warranties by UAL Corporation or United that such matters will be realized.

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The United Building, 77 West Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60601