United Airlines Holdings, Inc. (UAL) reported a net loss of $124 million for the first quarter of 2024, an improvement from a net loss of $194 million in the same period of 2023. Operating revenue increased by 9.7% to $12.539 billion, while operating expenses rose by 8.4% to $12.440 billion, resulting in an operating income of $99 million compared to a loss of $43 million in the previous year. The company experienced a 10.1% increase in passenger revenue, driven by a 9.1% increase in capacity and a 0.7% increase in yield. Cargo revenue, however, saw a slight decrease of 1.8%. Salaries and related costs surged by 18.4% due to wage rate increases and an 8.5% rise in headcount. Fuel expenses dropped by 6.9% due to a lower average price per gallon, despite a 7.7% increase in fuel consumption...Show More

United Airlines Holdings, Inc. (UAL) reported a net loss of $124 million for the first quarter of 2024, an improvement from a net loss of $194 million in the same period of 2023. Operating revenue increased by 9.7% to $12.539 billion, while operating expenses rose by 8.4% to $12.440 billion, resulting in an operating income of $99 million compared to a loss of $43 million in the previous year. The company experienced a 10.1% increase in passenger revenue, driven by a 9.1% increase in capacity and a 0.7% increase in yield. Cargo revenue, however, saw a slight decrease of 1.8%. Salaries and related costs surged by 18.4% due to wage rate increases and an 8.5% rise in headcount. Fuel expenses dropped by 6.9% due to a lower average price per gallon, despite a 7.7% increase in fuel consumption. United Airlines continues to face various economic and market challenges, including operational growth risks, inflationary pressures, and volatile fuel prices. The company has also been impacted by governmental actions such as increased FAA oversight and regional conflicts affecting airspace access. Looking ahead, United Airlines has secured compensation from Boeing for financial damages incurred due to the grounding of the Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft and certification delays for the Boeing 737 MAX 10 aircraft. The compensation will be accounted for as a reduction to the cost basis of the affected aircraft, expected to reduce future depreciation expenses. United Airlines maintains a strong liquidity position with $14.0 billion in unrestricted cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments as of March 31, 2024.