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Omaha Steve

(99,079 posts)
Thu Apr 25, 2013, 03:48 PM Apr 2013

United's 1Q loss narrows as fuel costs drop

Source: AP-Excite

By JOSHUA FREED

The parent of United Airlines reported a smaller first-quarter loss on Thursday, as fuel costs declined and revenue rose 1 percent.

The first quarter is the slowest travel season of the year, and it's not unusual for airlines to lose money then. This year, though, United's biggest rival, Delta, posted a small profit for the period, and Southwest and US Airways made money, too. Some airlines have said that government spending cuts that began in March hurt business, but United made no mention of the cuts in its earnings release.

Fuel expenses fell 6 percent, helped by less flying, slightly lower prices per gallon, and bets on fuel prices. But labor costs jumped 12 percent. United Continental Holdings Inc. (UAL) has been signing new wage deals that cover workers who came from both airlines, including a new pilot contract approved in December.

FUL story at link.


Read more: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20130425/DA5SIPDG3.html





In this April 16, 2010 file photo, Continental Airlines First Officer Pamela Perdue conducts a pre-flight inspection of a 767 airplane at George Bush Intercontinental Airport Friday in Houston. United Continental reports quarterly financial results before the market opens on Thursday, April 25, 2013. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip, file)

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United's 1Q loss narrows as fuel costs drop (Original Post) Omaha Steve Apr 2013 OP
Damn JustAnotherGen Apr 2013 #1

JustAnotherGen

(31,688 posts)
1. Damn
Thu Apr 25, 2013, 04:20 PM
Apr 2013

I hate United. Like Hate them.


See this from a few weeks ago?


http://travel.usnews.com/features/Americas_Meanest_Airlines_2012/

America's Meanest Airlines: 2012

1. United Airlines
AQR Score: -1.45
United Airlines had the highest rate of consumer complaints in 2011, beating out all other airlines with 2.21 complaints per 100,000 passengers. As a result, United received the worst AQR score out of the 11 national carriers ranked. Headley suspects that the company's $3 billion merger with Continental Airlines is to blame. "Anytime you have two airlines trying to combine, one of those airlines is going to have a period of decline," he explains. United also experienced a drop in its percentage of on-time arrivals, and the number of lost or damaged bags increased from 3.4 per 1,000 passengers to 3.66
.

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