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 7, 2012
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 8.01 Other Events
On March 7, 2012, United Continental Holdings, Inc. issued a press release reporting the February 2012 combined operational results of United Air Lines, Inc. and Continental Airlines, Inc., its wholly owned subsidiaries. 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 Continental Holdings, Inc. dated March 7, 2012 | |
| * | Filed 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: March 7, 2012 |
||||||
EXHIBIT INDEX
| Exhibit No. |
Description | |
| 99.1* | Press Release issued by United Continental Holdings, Inc. dated March 7, 2012 | |
| * | Filed herewith electronically. |
Exhibit 99.1
UNITED CONTINENTAL HOLDINGS REPORTS
FEBRUARY 2012 OPERATIONAL PERFORMANCE
CHICAGO, March 7, 2012 – United Continental Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: UAL) today reported February 2012 operational results for its United Airlines and Continental Airlines units.
UAL’s consolidated traffic (revenue passenger miles) in February 2012 increased 3.4 percent and consolidated capacity (available seat miles) increased 5.4 percent versus February 2011 results. The company’s consolidated load factor in February 2012 decreased 1.4 points compared to February 2011.
The company’s February 2012 consolidated passenger revenue per available seat mile (PRASM) increased an estimated 1.5 to 2.5 percent as compared to February 2011. The company’s year-over-year PRASM growth was adversely affected by approximately 6 percentage points due to three factors: more difficult comparisons due to accounting adjustments in 2011, including the impact of the company’s required implementation of Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Accounting Standards Update No. 2009-13, which UAL applied against frequent flyer mileage revenue recognition; significantly improved completion factor year-over-year; and the merger integration-related transition to a single inventory management and optimizing system. Overall demand remains solid and in line with the company’s expectations; March advance seat factor is up modestly year-over-year.
About United
United Airlines and United Express operate an average of 5,656 flights a day to 376 airports on six continents from our hubs in Chicago, Cleveland, Denver, Guam, Houston, Los Angeles, New York/Newark, San Francisco, Tokyo and Washington, D.C. In 2011, United carried more traffic than any other airline in the world, and operated more than two million flights carrying 142 million passengers. United is upgrading its cabins with more flat-bed seats in first and business class and more extra-legroom economy-class seating than any other airline in North America. United operates nearly 700 mainline aircraft and has orders for more than 125 new aircraft deliveries from 2012 through 2019, including 50 Boeing 787 Dreamliners and 25 Airbus A350XWBs. United was rated the world’s most admired airline on FORTUNE magazine’s 2012 airline-industry list of the World’s Most Admired Companies. Readers of Global Traveler magazine have voted United’s MileagePlus program the best frequent flyer program for eight consecutive years. United is a founding member of Star Alliance, which provides service to 189 countries via 27 member airlines. More than 85,000 United employees reside in every U.S. state
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UAL REPORTS FEBRUARY 2012 OPERATIONAL PERFORMANCE/Page 2
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.
- tables attached -
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UAL REPORTS FEBRUARY 2012 OPERATIONAL PERFORMANCE/Page 3
Preliminary Operational Results
| February | Year-to-Date | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2012 | 2011 | Change | 2012 | 2011 | Change | |||||||||||||||||||
| REVENUE PASSENGER MILES (000) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Domestic |
6,529,901 | 6,424,225 | 1.6 | % | 13,202,952 | 13,406,595 | (1.5 | )% | ||||||||||||||||
| International |
5,850,607 | 5,653,813 | 3.5 | % | 12,635,654 | 12,653,210 | (0.1 | )% | ||||||||||||||||
| Atlantic |
2,287,016 | 2,267,985 | 0.8 | % | 5,006,287 | 5,040,068 | (0.7 | )% | ||||||||||||||||
| Pacific |
2,238,713 | 2,162,551 | 3.5 | % | 4,804,750 | 4,880,384 | (1.5 | )% | ||||||||||||||||
| Latin |
1,324,878 | 1,223,277 | 8.3 | % | 2,824,617 | 2,732,758 | 3.4 | % | ||||||||||||||||
| Mainline |
12,380,508 | 12,078,038 | 2.5 | % | 25,838,606 | 26,059,805 | (0.8 | )% | ||||||||||||||||
| Regional |
1,833,188 | 1,669,250 | 9.8 | % | 3,712,340 | 3,523,675 | 5.4 | % | ||||||||||||||||
| Consolidated |
14,213,696 | 13,747,288 | 3.4 | % | 29,550,946 | 29,583,480 | (0.1 | )% | ||||||||||||||||
| AVAILABLE SEAT MILES (000) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Domestic |
8,142,171 | 8,007,610 | 1.7 | % | 16,382,844 | 16,814,635 | (2.6 | )% | ||||||||||||||||
| International |
8,411,041 | 7,764,648 | 8.3 | % | 17,329,613 | 16,668,626 | 4.0 | % | ||||||||||||||||
| Atlantic |
3,593,122 | 3,416,621 | 5.2 | % | 7,469,168 | 7,213,606 | 3.5 | % | ||||||||||||||||
| Pacific |
3,073,095 | 2,712,905 | 13.3 | % | 6,219,377 | 5,910,010 | 5.2 | % | ||||||||||||||||
| Latin |
1,744,824 | 1,635,122 | 6.7 | % | 3,641,068 | 3,545,010 | 2.7 | % | ||||||||||||||||
| Mainline |
16,553,212 | 15,772,258 | 5.0 | % | 33,712,457 | 33,483,261 | 0.7 | % | ||||||||||||||||
| Regional |
2,501,713 | 2,306,722 | 8.5 | % | 5,092,340 | 4,915,542 | 3.6 | % | ||||||||||||||||
| Consolidated |
19,054,925 | 18,078,980 | 5.4 | % | 38,804,797 | 38,398,803 | 1.1 | % | ||||||||||||||||
| PASSENGER LOAD FACTOR |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Domestic |
80.2 | % | 80.2 | % | 0.0 | pt | 80.6 | % | 79.7 | % | 0.9 | pts | ||||||||||||
| International |
69.6 | % | 72.8 | % | (3.2 | )pts | 72.9 | % | 75.9 | % | (3.0 | )pts | ||||||||||||
| Atlantic |
63.6 | % | 66.4 | % | (2.8 | )pts | 67.0 | % | 69.9 | % | (2.9 | )pts | ||||||||||||
| Pacific |
72.8 | % | 79.7 | % | (6.9 | )pts | 77.3 | % | 82.6 | % | (5.3 | )pts | ||||||||||||
| Latin |
75.9 | % | 74.8 | % | 1.1 | pts | 77.6 | % | 77.1 | % | 0.5 | pts | ||||||||||||
| Mainline |
74.8 | % | 76.6 | % | (1.8 | )pts | 76.6 | % | 77.8 | % | (1.2 | )pts | ||||||||||||
| Regional |
73.3 | % | 72.4 | % | 0.9 | pts | 72.9 | % | 71.7 | % | 1.2 | pts | ||||||||||||
| Consolidated |
74.6 | % | 76.0 | % | (1.4 | )pts | 76.2 | % | 77.0 | % | (0.8 | )pts | ||||||||||||
| ONBOARD PASSENGERS (000) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mainline |
6,701 | 6,667 | 0.5 | % | 13,717 | 14,047 | (2.3 | )% | ||||||||||||||||
| Regional |
3,339 | 2,999 | 11.3 | % | 6,652 | 6,286 | 5.8 | % | ||||||||||||||||
| Consolidated |
10,040 | 9,666 | 3.9 | % | 20,369 | 20,333 | 0.2 | % | ||||||||||||||||
| CARGO REVENUE TON MILES (000) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total |
201,866 | 216,176 | (6.6 | )% | 394,835 | 435,145 | (9.3 | )% | ||||||||||||||||
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UAL REPORTS FEBRUARY 2012 OPERATIONAL PERFORMANCE/Page 4
Preliminary Financial Results
| January 2012 year-over-year consolidated PRASM change |
8.9 | % | ||||||
| January 2012 year-over-year mainline PRASM change |
7.2 | % | ||||||
| February 2012 estimated year-over-year consolidated PRASM change |
1.5 – 2.5 | % | ||||||
| February 2012 estimated year-over-year mainline PRASM change |
Flat | |||||||
| February 2012 estimated consolidated average price per gallon of fuel, including fuel taxes |
3.30 | Dollars | ||||||
| First Quarter 2012 estimated consolidated average price per gallon of fuel, including fuel taxes |
3.33 Dollars | |||||||
Preliminary Operational Results
| 2012 | 20113 | Change | ||||||||||
| February On-Time Performance1 |
83.7 | % | 77.7 | % | 6.0 | pts | ||||||
| February Completion Factor2 |
99.2 | % | 96.0 | % | 3.2 | pts | ||||||
| 1 | Based on domestic mainline scheduled flights arriving within 14 minutes of scheduled arrival time, according to data published in the DOT Air Travel Consumer Report. |
| 2 | Mainline completion percentage. |
| 3 | In order to provide a meaningful year-over-year comparison, 2011 operational results are combined on a weighted departure basis for the Company’s two operating subsidiaries, United and Continental. On a standalone basis, United’s February 2011 on-time performance and completion factor was 79.3% and 96.4%, respectively, and Continental’s February 2011 on-time performance and completion factor was 75.5% and 95.5%, respectively. |
Safe Harbor Statement
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, 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.
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