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): April 20, 2016

 

 

UNITED CONTINENTAL HOLDINGS, INC.

UNITED AIRLINES, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

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

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification Number)

233 S. Wacker Drive, Chicago, IL   60606
233 S. Wacker Drive, Chicago, IL   60606
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

(872) 825-4000

(872) 825-4000

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 April 20, 2016, United Continental Holdings, Inc. (“UAL”), the holding company whose primary subsidiary is United Airlines, Inc. (“United,” and together with UAL, the “Company”), issued a press release announcing the financial results of the Company for first quarter 2016. 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 (the “Exchange Act”), 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 (the “Securities Act”), except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.

 

Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure.

On April 20, 2016, UAL will provide an investor update related to the financial and operational outlook for the Company for second quarter and full year 2016. 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 Exchange Act 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, 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 April 20, 2016
99.2*    Investor Update issued by United Continental Holdings, Inc. dated April 20, 2016

 

* 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 AIRLINES, INC.
  By:  

/s/ Chris Kenny

  Name:   Chris Kenny
  Title:   Vice President and Controller
Date: April 20, 2016    


EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit No.

  

Description

99.1*    Press Release issued by United Continental Holdings, Inc. dated April 20, 2016
99.2*    Investor Update issued by United Continental Holdings, Inc. dated April 20, 2016

 

* Furnished herewith electronically.
EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

 

LOGO

United Airlines Announces

Strong First-Quarter 2016 Performance

Mainline on-time arrival improvement of 14 points year-over-year;

best quarterly on-time performance since the merger

UAL reports meaningful EPS of $1.23 excluding special items;

$0.88 including special items

CHICAGO, April 20, 2016 – United Airlines (UAL) today reported its first-quarter 2016 financial results.

 

    Excluding special items, UAL reported first-quarter net income of $435 million, earnings per share of $1.23 per diluted share and pre-tax earnings of $688 million.
    Including special items, UAL reported first-quarter net income of $313 million, earnings per share of $0.88 per diluted share and pre-tax earnings of $494 million.
    During the first quarter of 2016, the company repurchased $1.5 billion worth of its common stock, representing approximately 8 percent of shares outstanding.

“I am extremely proud of United’s nearly 86,000 aviation professionals for their contributions to these strong results – including the improvements in our reliability, customer satisfaction and financial performance,” said Oscar Munoz, president and chief executive officer of United Airlines. “As we accelerate United’s path forward, we will continue to focus on running a great airline today while innovating for tomorrow.”

First-Quarter Revenue

For the first quarter of 2016, total revenue was $8.2 billion, a decrease of 4.8 percent year-over-year. First-quarter 2016 consolidated passenger revenue per available seat mile (PRASM) decreased 7.4 percent and consolidated yield decreased 6.1 percent compared to the first quarter of 2015. The decline in PRASM continues to be driven by economic factors including a strong U.S. dollar and lower oil prices. In addition, the company experienced a larger-than-anticipated decrease in close-in business travel during the weeks surrounding the Easter holiday and spring break.

The company continues to focus on providing customers options to personalize their travel experience and, this quarter, launched its new bundled products offering, which is exceeding expectations.


United Airlines Announces Strong First-Quarter 2016 Performance

 

First-Quarter Costs

Total operating expense excluding special charges was $7.4 billion in the first quarter, down 5.7 percent year-over-year. Including special charges, total operating expense was $7.5 billion, a 4.1 percent decrease year-over-year. The decrease was largely driven by lower oil prices. Consolidated unit cost (CASM), excluding special charges, third-party business expenses, fuel and profit sharing, increased 1.3 percent compared to the first quarter of 2015. Consolidated CASM including those items decreased 5.7 percent year-over-year.

Liquidity and Capital Allocation

In the first quarter, UAL generated $1.2 billion in operating cash flow, $376 million in free cash flow and ended the quarter with $5.3 billion in unrestricted liquidity, including $1.35 billion of undrawn commitments under its revolving credit facility. During the first quarter, the company continued to invest in its business through gross capital expenditures of approximately $820 million, excluding fully reimbursable projects, and repurchased $1.5 billion worth of its common stock, representing approximately 8 percent of shares outstanding.

UAL earned a 20.8 percent return on invested capital for the 12 months ended March 31, 2016.

For more information on UAL’s second-quarter 2016 guidance, please visit ir.united.com for the company’s investor update.

Recent Accomplishments

Operations and Employees

 

    Reported best quarterly on-time performance since the merger with a mainline arrival rate of 71.9 percent.
    Achieved best quarterly mishandled bag rate since the merger.
    Employees earned cash-incentive payments of approximately $30 million for achieving operational performance goals.
    Reached ratified agreements with more than half of represented employees – pilots, dispatchers and IAM-represented employees. The company remains focused on getting contracts like these for flight attendants and technicians.

Network and Fleet

 

    Announced new international routes including service between San Francisco and Hangzhou, China and San Francisco and Singapore, both with the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner and subject to government approval.
    Launched the first-ever nonstop service between San Francisco and Tel Aviv.
    Announced a joint venture revenue-sharing agreement with Air New Zealand.
    Signed a multi-year agreement to strengthen partnership and established a joint strategic initiative with Air China.
    Ordered 65 customer-pleasing, two-cabin Boeing 737-700 aircraft, reducing reliance on 50-seat aircraft.

 

2


United Airlines Announces Strong First-Quarter 2016 Performance

 

Customer Experience

 

    Achieved highest customer satisfaction score in the combined company’s history.
    United’s industry-leading mobile app topped 21 million downloads and was used by 50 percent of MileagePlus members when traveling.
    First U.S. airline to use commercial-scale volumes of biofuel for regularly scheduled flights.

About United

United Airlines and United Express operate an average of 5,000 flights a day to 336 airports across six continents. In 2015, United and United Express operated more than 1.5 million flights carrying more than 140 million customers. United is proud to have the world’s most comprehensive route network, including U.S. mainland hubs in Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, New York/Newark, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. United operates more than 715 mainline aircraft, and this year, the airline anticipates taking delivery of 21 new Boeing aircraft, including 737 NGs, 787s and 777s. The airline is a founding member of Star Alliance, which provides service to 192 countries via 28 member airlines. Approximately 86,000 United employees reside in every U.S. state and in countries around the world. For more information, visit united.com, follow @United on Twitter or connect on 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 future events and anticipated financial and operating 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,” “goals” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Additionally, forward-looking statements include statements that 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 and revenue-generating initiatives, including optimizing our revenue; 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 aircraft fuel and energy refining capacity in relevant markets); economic and political instability and other risks of doing business globally; our ability to cost-effectively hedge against increases in the price of aircraft 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; disruptions to our regional network; the costs and availability of aviation and other insurance; 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); the impact of regulatory, investigative and legal proceedings and legal compliance risks; the impact of any

 

3


United Airlines Announces Strong First-Quarter 2016 Performance

 

management changes; 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 Part I, Item 1A., “Risk Factors,” of UAL’s 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 U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

-tables attached-

 

4


United Airlines Announces Strong First-Quarter 2016 Performance

 

UNITED CONTINENTAL HOLDINGS, INC.

STATEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATED OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED)

THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2016 AND 2015

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,
    %
Increase/
(Decrease)
 
(In millions, except per share data)    2016     2015    
Operating revenue:       

Passenger: (A)

      

Mainline

   $ 5,577      $ 5,938        (6.1

Regional

     1,413        1,482        (4.7
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total passenger revenue

     6,990        7,420        (5.8

Cargo

     194        242        (19.8

Other operating revenue

     1,011        946        6.9   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total operating revenue

     8,195        8,608        (4.8
  

 

 

   

 

 

   
Operating expense:       

Salaries and related costs

     2,490        2,301        8.2   

Aircraft fuel (B)

     1,218        1,864        (34.7

Landing fees and other rent

     525        543        (3.3

Regional capacity purchase

     522        570        (8.4

Depreciation and amortization

     479        429        11.7   

Aircraft maintenance materials and outside repairs

     402        397        1.3   

Distribution expenses

     303        312        (2.9

Aircraft rent

     178        201        (11.4

Special charges (C)

     190        64        NM   

Other operating expenses

     1,239        1,186        4.5   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total operating expense

     7,546        7,867        (4.1
  

 

 

   

 

 

   
Operating income      649        741        (12.4
Nonoperating income (expense):       

Interest expense

     (159     (173     (8.1

Interest capitalized

     14        12        16.7   

Interest income

     8        5        60.0   

Miscellaneous, net (C)

     (18     (74     (75.7
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total nonoperating expense

     (155     (230     (32.6
  

 

 

   

 

 

   
Income before income taxes      494        511        (3.3
Income tax expense (D)      181        3        NM   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   
Net income    $ 313      $ 508        (38.4
  

 

 

   

 

 

   
Earnings per share, basic    $ 0.88      $ 1.33        (33.8
  

 

 

   

 

 

   
Earnings per share, diluted    $ 0.88      $ 1.32        (33.3
  

 

 

   

 

 

   
Weighted average shares, basic      354        382        (7.3
Weighted average shares, diluted      355        384        (7.6

NM Not meaningful

 

5


United Airlines Announces Strong First-Quarter 2016 Performance

 

UNITED CONTINENTAL HOLDINGS, INC.

NOTES (UNAUDITED)

 

(A) Select passenger revenue information is as follows (in millions):

 

     1Q 2016
Passenger
Revenue
(millions)
     Passenger
Revenue
vs.
1Q 2015
   PRASM
vs.
1Q 2015
   Yield vs.
1Q 2015
   Available
Seat Miles
vs.
1Q 2015

Domestic

   $ 2,868         (2.8%)      (5.5%)      (4.3%)       2.8% 

Atlantic

     1,040       (11.9%)      (8.9%)      (4.1%)      (3.3%)

Pacific

     952       (10.1%)      (9.4%)      (7.8%)      (0.8%)

Latin America

     717         (4.0%)    (14.5%)    (15.1%)     12.3% 
  

 

 

             

International

     2,709         (9.3%)    (10.5%)      (8.7%)       1.4% 

Mainline

     5,577         (6.1%)      (8.0%)      (6.5%)       2.1% 

Regional

     1,413         (4.7%)      (4.1%)      (3.7%)      (0.5%)
  

 

 

             

Consolidated

   $ 6,990         (5.8%)      (7.4%)      (6.1%)       1.8% 
  

 

 

             

 

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United Airlines Announces Strong First-Quarter 2016 Performance

 

UNITED CONTINENTAL HOLDINGS, INC.

NOTES (UNAUDITED)

 

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

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,
    %
Increase/
(Decrease)
 
(In millions, except per gallon)    2016     2015    
Mainline fuel expense excluding hedge impacts    $ 885      $ 1,396        (36.6

Hedge losses reported in fuel expense (a)

     (138     (161     NM   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   
Total mainline fuel expense      1,023        1,557        (34.3
Regional fuel expense      195        307        (36.5
  

 

 

   

 

 

   
Consolidated fuel expense      1,218        1,864        (34.7

Cash paid on settled hedges that did not qualify for hedge accounting (b)

     (5     (39     NM   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   
Fuel expense including all losses from settled hedges    $ 1,223      $ 1,903        (35.7
  

 

 

   

 

 

   
Mainline fuel consumption (gallons)      734        737        (0.4

Mainline average aircraft fuel price per gallon excluding hedge losses recorded in fuel expense

   $ 1.21      $ 1.89        (36.0
Mainline average aircraft fuel price per gallon    $ 1.39      $ 2.11        (34.1

Mainline average aircraft fuel price per gallon including cash paid on settled hedges that did not qualify for hedge accounting

   $ 1.40      $ 2.17        (35.5
Regional fuel consumption (gallons)      156        159        (1.9
Regional average aircraft fuel price per gallon    $ 1.25      $ 1.93        (35.2
Consolidated fuel consumption (gallons)      890        896        (0.7

Consolidated average aircraft fuel price per gallon excluding hedge losses recorded in fuel expense

   $ 1.21      $ 1.90        (36.3
Consolidated average aircraft fuel price per gallon    $ 1.37      $ 2.08        (34.1

Consolidated average aircraft fuel price per gallon including cash paid on settled hedges that did not qualify for hedge accounting

   $ 1.37      $ 2.12        (35.4

 

(a) Includes losses from settled hedges that were designated for hedge accounting. UAL allocates 100 percent of hedge accounting gains (losses) to mainline fuel expense.
(b) Includes ineffectiveness losses on settled hedges and losses on settled hedges that were not designated for hedge accounting. Ineffectiveness gains (losses) and gains (losses) on hedges that do not qualify for hedge accounting are recorded in Nonoperating income (expense): Miscellaneous, net.

 

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United Airlines Announces Strong First-Quarter 2016 Performance

 

UNITED CONTINENTAL HOLDINGS, INC.

NOTES (UNAUDITED)

 

(C) Special items include the following:

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
(In millions)    2016     2015  

Operating:

    

Labor agreement costs

   $ 100      $ —     

Cleveland airport lease restructuring

     74        —     

Severance and benefit costs

     8        50   

(Gains) losses on sale of assets and other special charges

     8        14   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Special charges

     190        64   

Nonoperating and income taxes:

    

Loss on extinguishment of debt and other

     8        6   

Income tax benefit related to special charges

     (72     —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total operating and nonoperating special charges, net of income taxes

     126        70   

Mark-to-market (MTM) losses from fuel derivative contracts settling in future periods

     —          36   

Prior period losses on fuel derivative contracts settled in the current period

     (4     (32
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total special items, net of income taxes

   $ 122      $ 74   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

2016 - Special items

Labor agreement costs: The fleet service, passenger service, storekeeper and other employees represented by the Int’l Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers ratified seven new contracts with the company which extended the contracts through 2021. The company recorded a $100 million ($64 million net of taxes) special charge for bonus payments to be made in conjunction with the ratification of these contracts.

Cleveland airport lease restructuring: During the three months ended March 31, 2016, the City of Cleveland agreed to amend the lease, which runs through 2029, associated with certain excess airport terminal space (principally Terminal D) and related facilities at Hopkins International Airport (“Cleveland”). The company recorded an accrual for remaining payments under the lease for facilities that the company no longer uses and will continue to incur costs under the lease without economic benefit to the company. This liability was measured and recorded at its fair value when the company ceased its right to use such facilities leased to it pursuant to the lease. The company reduced its flight operations at Cleveland in 2014 and had been evaluating its options for the excess space. The company recorded a net charge of $74 million ($47 million net of taxes) related to the amended lease.

Severance and benefit costs: During the three months ended March 31, 2016, the company recorded $8 million ($5 million net of taxes) of severance and benefit costs primarily related to a voluntary early-out program for its flight attendants. In 2014, more than 2,500 flight attendants elected to voluntarily separate from the company and will receive a severance payment, with a maximum value of $100,000 per participant, based on years of service, with retirement dates through the end of 2016.

Loss on extinguishment of debt and other: During the three months ended March 31, 2016, the company recorded $8 million of losses due to exchange rate changes in Venezuela applicable to funds held in local currency.

MTM losses from fuel derivative contracts settling in future periods and prior period losses on fuel derivative contracts settled in the current period: The company uses certain combinations of derivative contracts that are economic hedges but do not qualify for hedge accounting under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Additionally, the company may enter into contracts at different times and later combine those contracts into structures designated for hedge accounting. As with derivatives that qualify for hedge accounting, the economic hedges and individual contracts are part of the company’s program to mitigate the adverse financial impact of potential increases in the price of fuel. The company records changes in the fair value of these various contracts that are not designated for hedge accounting to Nonoperating income (expense): Miscellaneous, net in the statements of consolidated operations. During the three months ended March 31, 2016, the company did not record any MTM gains or losses on fuel derivative contracts that will settle in future periods. For fuel derivative contracts that settled in the three months ended March 31, 2016, the company recorded MTM losses of $4 million in prior periods.

 

8


United Airlines Announces Strong First-Quarter 2016 Performance

 

2015 - Special items

Severance and benefit costs: During the three months ended March 31, 2015, the company recorded $50 million of severance and benefit costs primarily related to a voluntary early-out program for its flight attendants. In 2014, more than 2,500 flight attendants elected to voluntarily separate from the company and will receive a severance payment, with a maximum value of $100,000 per participant, based on years of service, with retirement dates through the end of 2016.

(Gains) losses on sale of assets and other special charges: During the three months ended March 31, 2015, the company recorded $18 million of integration-related charges, $5 million of other charges, and approximately $9 million of gains on the sale of assets.

Loss on extinguishment of debt and other: During the three months ended March 31, 2015, the company recorded $6 million of losses as part of Nonoperating income (expense): Miscellaneous, net due to the write-off of the debt discount related to the redemption of the 6% Notes due 2026 and 6% Notes due 2028.

MTM losses from fuel derivative contracts settling in future periods and prior period losses on fuel derivative contracts settled in the current period: The company uses certain combinations of derivative contracts that are economic hedges but do not qualify for hedge accounting under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Additionally, the company may enter into contracts at different times and later combine those contracts into structures designated for hedge accounting. As with derivatives that qualify for hedge accounting, the economic hedges and individual contracts are part of the company’s program to mitigate the adverse financial impact of potential increases in the price of fuel. The company records changes in the fair value of these various contracts that are not designated for hedge accounting to Nonoperating income (expense): Miscellaneous, net in the statements of consolidated operations. During the three months ended March 31, 2015, the company recorded $36 million in MTM losses on fuel derivative contracts that will settle in future periods. For fuel derivative contracts that settled in the three months ended March 31, 2015, the company recorded MTM losses of $32 million in prior periods.

 

(D) The company’s effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2016 was 36.6%, which represented a blend of federal, state and foreign taxes and the impact of certain nondeductible items. The effective rate for the three months ended March 31, 2015 was 0.5% due primarily to the existing income tax valuation allowance against deferred income tax assets, primarily net operating losses. During 2015, after considering all positive and negative evidence, the company concluded that its deferred income taxes would be more likely than not to be realized. The company released substantially all of its valuation allowance in 2015.

 

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United Airlines Announces Strong First-Quarter 2016 Performance

 

UNITED CONTINENTAL HOLDINGS, INC.

STATISTICS

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,
    %
Increase/
(Decrease)
 
     2016     2015    

Mainline:

      

Passengers (thousands)

     22,277        21,378        4.2   

Revenue passenger miles (millions)

     40,856        40,660        0.5   

Available seat miles (millions)

     51,165        50,125        2.1   

Cargo ton miles (millions)

     622        662        (6.0

Passenger load factor:

      

Mainline

     79.9     81.1     (1.2 ) pts. 

Domestic

     83.4     84.4     (1.0 ) pt. 

International

     76.5     78.1     (1.6 ) pts. 

Passenger revenue per available seat mile (cents)

     10.90        11.85        (8.0

Average yield per revenue passenger mile (cents)

     13.65        14.60        (6.5

Aircraft in fleet at end of period

     719        700        2.7   

Average stage length (miles)

     1,859        1,917        (3.0

Average daily utilization of each aircraft (hours)

     9:36        9:55        (3.2

Regional:

      

Passengers (thousands)

     9,810        10,144        (3.3

Revenue passenger miles (millions)

     5,726        5,784        (1.0

Available seat miles (millions)

     7,108        7,144        (0.5

Passenger load factor

     80.6     81.0     (0.4 ) pts. 

Passenger revenue per available seat mile (cents)

     19.88        20.74        (4.1

Average yield per revenue passenger mile (cents)

     24.68        25.62        (3.7

Aircraft in fleet at end of period

     503        532        (5.5

Average stage length (miles)

     575        561        2.5   

Consolidated (Mainline and Regional):

      

Passengers (thousands)

     32,087        31,522        1.8   

Revenue passenger miles (millions)

     46,582        46,444        0.3   

Available seat miles (millions)

     58,273        57,269        1.8   

Passenger load factor

     79.9     81.1     (1.2 ) pts. 

Passenger revenue per available seat mile (cents)

     12.00        12.96        (7.4

Total revenue per available seat mile (cents)

     14.06        15.03        (6.5

Average yield per revenue passenger mile (cents)

     15.01        15.98        (6.1

Aircraft in fleet at end of period

     1,222        1,232        (0.8

Average stage length (miles)

     1,461        1,473        (0.8

Average full-time equivalent employees (thousands)

     82.5        81.7        1.0   

 

Note: See Part II, Item 6 Selected Financial Data of the company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 for the definition of these statistics.

 

10


United Airlines Announces Strong First-Quarter 2016 Performance

 

UNITED CONTINENTAL HOLDINGS, INC.

NON-GAAP FINANCIAL RECONCILIATION

UAL evaluates its financial performance utilizing various accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP) and Non-GAAP financial measures, including income (loss) before income taxes excluding special items, net income (loss) excluding special items, net earnings (loss) per share excluding special items, 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 adjusting for special items is useful to investors because special charges are non-recurring charges not indicative of UAL’s ongoing performance. In addition, the company believes that adjusting for MTM gains and losses from fuel derivative contracts settling in future periods and prior period gains and losses on fuel derivative contracts settled in the current period is useful because the adjustments allow investors to better understand the cash impact of settled fuel derivative contracts in a given period. 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. UAL also 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 excludes profit sharing because this exclusion allows investors to better understand and analyze our recurring cost performance and provides a more meaningful comparison of our core operating costs to the airline industry. UAL also believes that adjusting capital expenditures for fully reimbursable projects is useful to investors in order to appropriately reflect the non-reimbursable funds spent on capital expenditures.

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,
     $
Increase/
(Decrease)
    %
Increase/
(Decrease)
 
(in millions)    2016      2015       

Operating expenses

   $ 7,546       $ 7,867       $ (321     (4.1

Less: Special charges (C)

     190         64         126        NM   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

Operating expenses, excluding special charges

     7,356         7,803         (447     (5.7

 

Less: Third-party business expenses

     67         66         1        1.5   

Less: Fuel expense

     1,218         1,864         (646     (34.7

Less: Profit sharing, including taxes

     93         70         23        32.9   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

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

   $ 5,978       $ 5,803       $ 175        3.0   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

Income before income taxes

   $ 494       $ 511       $ (17     (3.3

Less: Special items before income taxes (C)

     194         74         120        NM   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

Income before income taxes and excluding special items

   $ 688       $ 585       $ 103        17.6   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

Net income

   $ 313       $ 508       $ (195     (38.4

Less: Special items, net of tax (C)

     122         74         48        NM   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

Net income, excluding special items

   $ 435       $ 582       $ (147     (25.3
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

Diluted earnings per share

   $ 0.88       $ 1.32       $ (0.44     (33.3

Add back: Special items, net of tax

     0.35         0.20         0.15        NM   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

Diluted earnings per share, excluding special items

   $ 1.23       $ 1.52       $ (0.29     (19.1
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

11


United Airlines Announces Strong First-Quarter 2016 Performance

 

UNITED CONTINENTAL HOLDINGS, INC.

NON-GAAP FINANCIAL RECONCILIATION (Continued)

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,
     %
Increase/
(Decrease)
 
     2016      2015     

CASM Mainline Operations (cents)

        

Cost per available seat mile (CASM)

     12.47         12.99         (4.0

Less: Special charges (C)

     0.37         0.13         NM   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

CASM, excluding special charges

     12.10         12.86         (5.9

Less: Third-party business expenses

     0.13         0.13         —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

CASM, excluding special charges and third-party business expenses

     11.97         12.73         (6.0

Less: Fuel expense

     2.00         3.10         (35.5
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

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

     9.97         9.63         3.5   

Less: Profit sharing per available seat mile

     0.18         0.14         28.6   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

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

     9.79         9.49         3.2   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

CASM Consolidated Operations (cents)

        

Cost per available seat mile (CASM)

     12.95         13.74         (5.7

Less: Special charges (C)

     0.33         0.11         NM   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

CASM, excluding special charges

     12.62         13.63         (7.4

Less: Third-party business expenses

     0.11         0.12         (8.3
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

CASM, excluding special charges and third-party business expenses

     12.51         13.51         (7.4

Less: Fuel expense

     2.09         3.25         (35.7
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

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

     10.42         10.26         1.6   

Less: Profit sharing per available seat mile

     0.16         0.13         23.1   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

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

     10.26         10.13         1.3   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

12


United Airlines Announces Strong First-Quarter 2016 Performance

 

UNITED CONTINENTAL HOLDINGS, INC.

CAPITAL EXPENDITURES AND FREE CASH FLOW

 

Capital Expenditures (in millions)    Three Months Ended
March 31, 2016
 

Capital expenditures – GAAP

   $ 816   

Property and equipment acquired through the issuance of debt

     59   

Airport construction financing

     9   

Fully reimbursable projects

     (61
  

 

 

 

Adjusted capital expenditures – Non-GAAP

   $ 823   
  

 

 

 

 

Free Cash Flow (in millions)    Three Months Ended
March 31, 2016
 

Net cash provided by operating activities

   $ 1,199   

Less adjusted capital expenditures – Non-GAAP

     823   
  

 

 

 

Free cash flow

   $ 376   
  

 

 

 

 

13


United Airlines Announces Strong First-Quarter 2016 Performance

 

UNITED CONTINENTAL HOLDINGS, INC.

RETURN ON INVESTED CAPITAL (ROIC)

ROIC is a Non-GAAP financial measure that we believe provides useful supplemental information for management and investors by measuring the effectiveness of our operations’ use of invested capital to generate profits.

 

(in millions)    Twelve Months Ended
March 31, 2016
 

Net Operating Profit After Tax (NOPAT)

  

Pre-tax income excluding special items (a)

   $ 4,601   

NOPAT adjustments (b)

     1,078   
  

 

 

 

NOPAT

   $ 5,679   
  

 

 

 

Effective cash tax rate (c)

     0.3

Invested Capital (five-quarter average)

  

Total assets

   $ 39,966   

Invested capital adjustments (d)

     12,617   
  

 

 

 

Average Invested Capital

   $ 27,349   
  

 

 

 
  
  

 

 

 

Return on Invested Capital

     20.8
  

 

 

 
Notes:    Twelve Months Ended
March 31, 2016
 

(a) Non-GAAP Financial Reconciliation

  

Pre-tax income

   $ 4,202   

Add: Special items

     399   
  

 

 

 

Pre-tax income excluding special items

   $ 4,601   
  

 

 

 

 

(b) NOPAT adjustments include: adding back (net of tax shield) interest expense, the interest component of capitalized aircraft rent, and net interest on pension.
(c) Effective cash tax rate is calculated by dividing cash taxes paid by adjusted pre-tax income.
(d) Invested capital adjustments include: adding back capital aircraft rent (at 7.0X) and deferred income taxes, less advance ticket sales, frequent flyer deferred revenue, tax valuation allowance, and other non-interest bearing liabilities.

# # #

 

14

EX-99.2

Exhibit 99.2

 

LOGO

   LOGO

Investor Update

   Issue Date: April 20, 2016

This investor update provides guidance and certain forward-looking statements about United Continental Holdings, Inc. (the “Company” or “UAL”). The information in this investor update contains the financial and operational outlook for the Company for second-quarter and full-year 2016.

 

Second-Quarter and Full-Year 2016 Outlook

  Estimated
2Q 2016
    Estimated
FY 2016
 

Consolidated Capacity Year-Over-Year Change Higher/(Lower)

    (0.5 %)      —          0.5     1.0     —          2.0

Pre-Tax Margin1

    13.0     —          15.0      

Revenue

       

Consolidated PRASM (¢/ASM)

    12.54        —          12.27         

Year-Over-Year Change Higher/(Lower)

    (6.5 %)      —          (8.5 %)       

Cargo and Other Revenue ($M)

  $ 1,250        —        $ 1,350         

Non-Fuel Operating Expense

           

Consolidated CASM Excluding Fuel, Profit Sharing & Third-Party Business Expenses1 (¢/ASM)

    9.57        —          9.67        9.73        —          9.83   

Year-Over-Year Change Higher/(Lower)

    2.5     —          3.5     2.0     —          3.0

Third-Party Business Expenses2 ($M)

  $ 65        —        $ 75      $ 300        —        $ 320   

Aircraft Rent ($M)

  $ 175        —        $ 180      $ 690        —        $ 700   

Depreciation and Amortization ($M)

  $ 485        —        $ 490      $ 1,930        —        $ 1,940   

Profit Sharing ($M)

  $ 190        —        $ 230         

Consolidated Fuel Expense

           

Fuel Consumption (Million Gallons)

      ~1,005            ~3,925     

Fuel Price Excluding Hedges (Price per Gallon)3

  $ 1.31        —        $ 1.36      $ 1.34        —        $ 1.39   

Operating Cash-Settled Hedge Loss (Price per Gallon)

    $ 0.04          $ 0.06     

Fuel Price Including Operating Cash-Settled Hedges (Price per Gallon)3, 4

  $ 1.35        —        $ 1.40      $ 1.40        —        $ 1.45   

Non-Operating Cash-Settled Hedge Loss (Price per Gallon)3,5

    $ 0.00          $ 0.00     

Fuel Price Including All Cash-Settled Hedges (Price per Gallon)3,6

  $ 1.35        —        $ 1.40      $ 1.40        —        $ 1.45   

Non-Operating Expense7 ($M)

  $ 115        —        $ 145      $ 505        —        $ 555   

Effective Income Tax Rate

      ~37         ~37  

Gross Capital Expenditures8 ($M)

  $ 780        —        $ 800      $ 3,100        —        $ 3,300   

Debt and Capital Lease Payments ($M)

    $ 260          $ 1,340     

Pension ($M)

           

Expense

          ~$ 175     

Cash contribution

          ~$ 400     

Diluted Share Count9 (M)

      336            341     

 

1. Excludes special charges, the nature and amount of which are not determinable at this time
2. Third-party business revenue associated with third-party business expenses are recorded in other revenue
3. Fuel price including taxes and fees
4. This price per gallon corresponds to fuel expense in the income statement
5. This price per gallon corresponds to the impact of non-operating hedges that appear in non-operating expense in the income statement
6. This price per gallon corresponds to the total economic cost of the Company’s fuel consumption including all cash-settled hedges but does not directly correspond to fuel expense in the income statement
7. The Company excludes the non-cash impact of fuel hedges and other special items from its non-operating expense guidance and Non-GAAP earnings
8. Capital expenditures include net purchase deposits and exclude fully reimbursable capital projects
9. Does not include an assumption related to future share repurchases. Diluted share count is approximately equal to basic share count

 

(more)


LOGO

Passenger Revenue: The Company expects the decline in second-quarter 2016 unit passenger revenue to be driven primarily by a strong U.S. dollar, lower surcharges, travel reductions from customers impacted by declining oil prices, competitive actions and passenger demand not growing at the same pace as industry capacity.

Non-Fuel Expense: The guidance provided in the table above includes the impact of ratified labor agreements as of April 20, 2016, including pilots, dispatchers and IAM-represented employees.

Profit Sharing: For 2016, the Company expects to pay approximately 9.5% of total adjusted earnings as profit sharing to employees for adjusted earnings up to a 6.9% adjusted pre-tax margin and approximately 14.7% for any adjusted earnings above that amount. Adjusted earnings for the purposes of profit sharing are calculated as GAAP pre-tax earnings, excluding special items, profit sharing expense and share-based compensation program expense. These estimates are consistent with the Company’s current labor agreements. The Company estimates that share-based compensation expense for the purposes of the profit sharing calculation will be approximately $28 million through the second quarter of 2016.

Fuel Expense: Based on the April 14, 2016 fuel forward curve, the Company expects a total second-quarter 2016 hedge loss of approximately $40 million, or $0.04 per gallon, which is recorded in fuel expense in the income statement. For the full-year 2016, the Company expects a loss of $235 million, or $0.06 per gallon.

Non-Operating Expense: The Company does not expect to record any cash-settled hedge loss in non-operating expense in the second quarter or the remaining nine months of 2016.

Taxes: The Company expects a tax rate of approximately 37% for the second-quarter and full-year 2016. However, the Company expects that there will be no material cash taxes due to UAL’s net operating loss carryforwards (NOLs), which were approximately $8 billion as of year-end 2015. The Company anticipates that these NOLs will largely offset cash income taxes for the next several years.

(more)

 

2


LOGO

Second-Quarter and Full-Year 2016 Capacity

 

     Estimated 2Q
2016
     Year-Over-Year %
Change

Higher/(Lower)
    Estimated FY 2016      Year-Over-Year %
Change

Higher/(Lower)
 

Capacity (Million ASMs)

                              

Mainline Capacity

                              

Domestic

     27,931        —           28,210         (0.1 %)      —           0.9               

Atlantic

     13,158        —           13,284         3.7     —           4.7               

Pacific

     10,148        —           10,251         (1.8 %)      —           (0.8 %)                

Latin America

     5,955        —           6,016         (1.9 %)      —           (0.9 %)                

Total Mainline Capacity

     57,192        —           57,761         0.3     —           1.3               

Regional

     7,169        —           7,247         (6.1 %)      —           (5.1 %)                

Consolidated Capacity

                              

Domestic

     34,758        —           35,111         (1.5 %)      —           (0.5 %)      138,300        —           139,670         1.0     —           2.0

International

     29,603        —           29,897         0.7     —           1.7     114,203        —           115,333         1.0     —           2.0

Total Consolidated Capacity

     64,361        —           65,008         (0.5 %)      —           0.5     252,503        —           255,003         1.0     —           2.0

Fuel Price Sensitivity

As of April 14, 2016, the Company had hedged 13% of its projected fuel requirements for second-quarter 2016 and 12% of its projected fuel requirements for the remaining nine months of 2016. The Company uses a variety of hedges including swaps and options on aircraft fuel and crude oil. The Company expects to participate in 100% of declines below current price levels for the remaining nine months of 2016.

The table below outlines the Company’s estimated cash hedge impacts at various price points based on the April 14th, 2016 fuel forward curve, where Brent spot price was $43.84 per barrel and rest of year average forward price is $44.05 per barrel. With the current portfolio, hedge gains/losses are recognized in Fuel Expense.

 

Fuel Scenarios*    Cash Hedge Impact    2Q16      3Q16      4Q16  
          forecast      forecast      forecast  

+40%

  

Commodity Price Increase/(Decrease)** ($/gal)

 

     0.46         0.49         0.50   
  

Hedge Gain/(Loss) ($/gal)

     (0.03      (0.01      (0.01
                                

+30%

  

Commodity Price Increase/(Decrease)** ($/gal)

 

     0.35         0.36         0.38   
  

Hedge Gain/(Loss) ($/gal)

     (0.03      (0.01      (0.01
                                

+20%

  

Commodity Price Increase/(Decrease)** ($/gal)

 

     0.23         0.24         0.25   
  

Hedge Gain/(Loss) ($/gal)

     (0.03      (0.01      (0.01
                                

+10%

  

Commodity Price Increase/(Decrease)** ($/gal)

 

     0.12         0.12         0.13   
  

Hedge Gain/(Loss) ($/gal)

     (0.03      (0.01      (0.01
                                

Current

  

Commodity Price Increase/(Decrease)** ($/gal)

 

     0.00         0.00         0.00   

Forward Curve

  

Hedge Gain/(Loss) ($/gal)

     (0.04      (0.03      (0.03
                                

(10%)

  

Commodity Price Increase/(Decrease)** ($/gal)

 

     (0.12      (0.12      (0.13
  

Hedge Gain/(Loss) ($/gal)

     (0.04      (0.03      (0.03
                                

(20%)

  

Commodity Price Increase/(Decrease)** ($/gal)

 

     (0.23      (0.24      (0.25
  

Hedge Gain/(Loss) ($/gal)

     (0.04      (0.03      (0.03
                                

(30%)

  

Commodity Price Increase/(Decrease)** ($/gal)

 

     (0.35      (0.36      (0.38
  

Hedge Gain/(Loss) ($/gal)

     (0.04      (0.03      (0.03
                                

(40%)

  

Commodity Price Increase/(Decrease)** ($/gal)

 

     (0.46      (0.49      (0.50
  

Hedge Gain/(Loss) ($/gal)

     (0.04      (0.03      (0.03

 

* Projected fuel scenarios represent hypothetical fuel forward curves parallel to the baseline April 14, 2016 fuel forward curve and are meant to illustrate the behavior of our fuel hedge portfolio at different commodity price points, assuming equal magnitude change across all hedged commodities
** Change in UAL’s realized fuel price is not equal to the change in commodity prices due to timing and purchasing patterns

(more)

 

3


LOGO

Company Outlook

Fleet Plan

As of April 20, 2016, the Company’s fleet plan was as follows:

 

     YE 2015      YE 2016      FY D  

B747-400

     22         20         (2

B777-200/300

     74         75         1   

B787-8/9

     25         30         5   

B767-300/400

     51         51         —     

B757-200/300

     81         77         (4

B737-700/800/900

     310         325         15   

A319/A320

     152         161         9   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Mainline Aircraft

     715         739         24   
     YE 2015      YE 2016      FY D  

Q400

     13         —           (13

Q300

     5         5         —     

Q200

     16         16         —     

Embraer ERJ 145

     199         180         (19

Embraer ERJ 135

     5         5         —     

CRJ200

     50         50         —     

CRJ700

     115         79         (36

Embraer 170

     38         38         —     

Embraer E175

     80         123         43   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Regional Aircraft

     521         496         (25

GAAP to Non-GAAP Reconciliations

UAL evaluates its financial performance utilizing various accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) and Non-GAAP financial measures, including pre-tax margin excluding special charges, cost per available seat mile (“CASM”) excluding fuel, profit sharing and third-party business expenses and non-operating expenses excluding the non-cash impact of fuel hedges and other special items, among others. CASM is a common metric used in the airline industry to measure an airline’s cost structure and efficiency. Non-GAAP financial measures are presented because they provide management and investors the ability to measure and monitor UAL’s performance on a consistent basis. 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 excluding profit sharing allows investors to better understand and analyze our recurring cost performance and provides a more meaningful comparison of our core operating costs to the airline industry. UAL believes that adjusting for special charges is useful to investors because they are non-recurring charges not indicative of UAL’s ongoing 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. UAL believes that excluding fuel expense 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, given that both the cost and availability of fuel are subject to economic and political factors beyond the Company’s control. In addition, UAL believes that excluding non-cash (gains)/losses on fuel derivative contracts from non-operating expense is useful because it allows investors to better understand the impact of settled hedges on a given period’s results.

 

    

Estimated 2Q

2016

    

Estimated FY

2016

 

Consolidated Unit Cost (¢/ASM)

                 

Consolidated CASM Excluding Special Charges (a)

     12.06         —           12.33         12.02         —           12.20   

Less: Profit Sharing Expense

     0.29         —           0.36         NA         —           NA   
  

 

 

       

 

 

    

 

 

       

 

 

 

Consolidated CASM Excluding Profit Sharing & Special Charges

     11.77         —           11.97         12.02         —           12.20   

Less: Third-Party Business Expense

     0.10         —           0.12         0.12         —           0.13   
  

 

 

       

 

 

    

 

 

       

 

 

 

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

     11.67         —           11.85         11.90         —           12.07   

Less: Fuel Expense (b)

     2.10         —           2.18         2.17         —           2.24   
  

 

 

       

 

 

    

 

 

       

 

 

 

Consolidated CASM Excluding Fuel, Profit Sharing, Third-Party Business Expense, & Special Charges

     9.57         —           9.67         9.73         —           9.83   
    

Estimated 2Q

2016

    

Estimated FY

2016

 

Non-operating Expense ($M)

                 

Non-operating expense

   $ 118         —         $ 148       $ 519         —         $ 569   

Hedge program adjustments (c)

     (3      —           (3      (6      —           (6

Exclude: other special items

     —           —           —           (8      —           (8
  

 

 

       

 

 

    

 

 

       

 

 

 

Non-operating expense, adjusted

   $ 115         —         $ 145       $ 505         —         $ 555   

 

(a) Excludes special charges, such as 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, at this time the Company is unable to provide an estimate of these charges, as well as an estimate of full-year profit sharing, with reasonable certainty.
(b) Both the cost and availability of fuel are subject to many economic and political factors and are therefore beyond the Company’s control.
(c) Hedge program adjustments consist of excluding MTM (gains) and losses from fuel derivative contracts settling in future periods and adding back prior period gains and losses on fuel contracts settled in the current period. The purpose of hedge program adjustments is to adjust GAAP fuel derivative contract (gains) / losses to a cash-settled amount.

(more)

 

4


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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 that 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, including optimizing our revenue; 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 aircraft fuel and energy refining capacity in relevant markets); our ability to cost-effectively hedge against increases in the price of aircraft 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; 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); the impact of regulatory, investigative and legal proceedings and legal compliance risks; the impact of any management changes; 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 Item 1A., Risk Factors, of UAL’s 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 U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

For further questions, contact Investor Relations at (872) 825-8610 or investorrelations@united.com.

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