EX-99.1 2 d230145dex991.htm PRESS RELEASE Press Release

Exhibit 99.1

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UNITED CONTINENTAL HOLDINGS REPORTS AUGUST 2011

OPERATIONAL PERFORMANCE FOR UNITED AND CONTINENTAL

CHICAGO, Sept. 8, 2011 – United Continental Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: UAL) today reported August 2011 operational results for United Air Lines, Inc. and Continental Airlines, Inc.

United and Continental’s combined consolidated traffic (revenue passenger miles) in August 2011 decreased 2.7 percent versus pro forma August 2010 results on a consolidated capacity (available seat miles) decrease of 1.6 percent. The carriers’ combined consolidated load factor in August 2011 was down 0.9 points compared to the pro forma results from the same period last year.

United and Continental’s August 2011 combined consolidated and mainline passenger revenue per available seat mile (PRASM) each increased an estimated 10.5 to 11.5 percent compared to the pro forma results from August 2010.

Hurricane Irene impacted United and Continental’s operations in August, reducing the company’s revenue results by approximately $40 million in the month and reducing consolidated capacity. As a result, consolidated PRASM year-over-year growth improved by approximately 1 percentage point, which is included in the above estimate.

About United Continental Holdings, Inc.

United Continental Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: UAL) is the holding company for both United Airlines and Continental Airlines. Together with United Express, Continental Express and Continental Connection, these airlines operate an average of 5,765 flights a day to 377 airports on six continents from their hubs in Chicago, Cleveland, Denver, Guam, Houston, Los Angeles, New York/Newark Liberty, San Francisco, Tokyo and Washington, D.C. United and Continental are members of Star Alliance, which offers more than 21,200 daily flights to 1,185 airports in 185 countries. United and Continental’s more than 80,000 employees reside in every U.S. state and in many countries around the world. For more information about United Continental Holdings, Inc., go to UnitedContinentalHoldings.com. For more information about the airlines, see united.com and continental.com or follow on Twitter and Facebook.

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UAL REPORTS AUGUST 2011 OPERATIONAL PERFORMANCE/Page 2

 

Preliminary Operational Results

 

     August     Year-to-Date  
     2011    

2010

Pro Forma

    Change     2011    

2010

Pro Forma

    Change  

REVENUE PASSENGER MILES (000)

  

         

Domestic

     9,053,223        9,294,315        (2.6 )%      64,811,970        65,988,784        (1.8 )% 

International

     8,101,047        8,350,781        (3.0 )%      59,101,518        58,828,946        0.5

Atlantic

     3,816,483        4,050,941        (5.8 )%      26,763,920        26,652,507        0.4

Pacific

     2,931,684        2,936,943        (0.2 )%      20,920,170        21,134,787        (1.0 )% 

Latin America

     1,352,880        1,362,897        (0.7 )%      11,417,428        11,041,652        3.4

Mainline

     17,154,270        17,645,096        (2.8 )%      123,913,488        124,817,730        (0.7 )% 

Regional

     2,375,710        2,417,649        (1.7 )%      17,304,515        17,503,103        (1.1 )% 

Consolidated

     19,529,980        20,062,745        (2.7 )%      141,218,003        142,320,833        (0.8 )% 

AVAILABLE SEAT MILES (000)

  

         

Domestic

     10,240,594        10,497,601        (2.4 )%      75,850,178        77,264,524        (1.8 )% 

International

     9,575,790        9,679,914        (1.1 )%      73,308,808        70,830,886        3.5

Atlantic

     4,522,343        4,674,017        (3.2 )%      33,577,226        32,149,945        4.4

Pacific

     3,397,040        3,356,346        1.2     25,358,944        25,085,793        1.1

Latin America

     1,656,407        1,649,551        0.4     14,372,638        13,595,148        5.7

Mainline

     19,816,384        20,177,515        (1.8 )%      149,158,986        148,095,410        0.7

Regional

     2,974,920        2,990,502        (0.5 )%      22,299,785        22,181,838        0.5

Consolidated

     22,791,304        23,168,017        (1.6 )%      171,458,771        170,277,248        0.7

PASSENGER LOAD FACTOR

  

         

Domestic

     88.4     88.5     (0.1 )pts      85.4     85.4     0.0 pts 

International

     84.6     86.3     (1.7 )pts      80.6     83.1     (2.5 )pts 

Atlantic

     84.4     86.7     (2.3 )pts      79.7     82.9     (3.2 )pts 

Pacific

     86.3     87.5     (1.2 )pts      82.5     84.3     (1.8 )pts 

Latin America

     81.7     82.6     (0.9 )pts      79.4     81.2     (1.8 )pts 

Mainline

     86.6     87.4     (0.8 )pts      83.1     84.3     (1.2 )pts 

Regional

     79.9     80.8     (0.9 )pts      77.6     78.9     (1.3 )pts 

Consolidated

     85.7     86.6     (0.9 )pts      82.4     83.6     (1.2 )pts 

ONBOARD PASSENGERS (000)

  

         

Mainline

     8,925        9,229        (3.3 )%      65,855        67,304        (2.2 )% 

Regional

     4,133        4,249        (2.7 )%      30,462        31,013        (1.8 )% 

Consolidated

     13,058        13,478        (3.1 )%      96,317        98,317        (2.0 )% 

CARGO REVENUE TON MILES (000)

  

         

Total

     199,728        241,122        (17.2 )%      1,782,936        2,007,866        (11.2 )% 

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UAL REPORTS AUGUST 2011 OPERATIONAL PERFORMANCE/Page 3

 

Preliminary Financial Results

 

July 2011 year-over-year consolidated PRASM change

     7.7

July 2011 year-over-year mainline PRASM change

     7.9

August 2011 estimated year-over-year consolidated PRASM change

     10.5-11.5

August 2011 estimated year-over-year mainline PRASM change

     10.5-11.5

August 2011 estimated consolidated average price per gallon of fuel, including fuel taxes

     3.17  Dollars 

Third Quarter 2011 estimated consolidated average price per gallon of fuel, including fuel taxes

     3.16  Dollars 

Preliminary August Operational Results for United and Continental

 

United Airlines    2011     2010     Change  

On-Time Performance1

     77.8     85.1     (7.3 ) pts 

Completion Factor2

     97.8     99.0     (1.2 ) pts 
Continental Airlines    2011     2010     Change  

On-Time Performance1

     74.3     87.1     (12.8 ) pts 

Completion Factor2

     96.6     99.9     (3.3 ) 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

Safe Harbor Statement

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); 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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