Tag Archives: 29717

United Airlines announces its highest-ever quarterly profit

United Airlines (Chicago) today reported its largest quarterly profit ever,ย reporting a second quarter 2015 net profit of $1.3 billion, or $3.31 per diluted share, excluding $67 million of special items.

The company issued this report:

United logo-1

United Airlines (UAL) today reported second-quarter 2015 net income of $1.3 billion, or $3.31 per diluted share, excluding $67 million of special items. Including special items, UAL reported second-quarter net income of $1.2 billion, or $3.14 per diluted share. These results are a record quarterly profit for the company.

  • The company’s Board of Directors authorized an additional $3 billion share repurchase program, which the company expects to complete by the end of 2017.
  • In the quarter, UAL prepaid approximately $800 million of debt, contributed approximately $620 million to its pension plans and returned approximately $250 million to shareholders as part of its existing $1 billion share buyback program.
  • UAL earned an 18.2 percent return on invested capital for the 12 months ended June 30, 2015.

“This quarter’s record results reflect the progress we’re making on our long-term plan, and I’d like to thank the United team for their great work,” said Jeff Smisek, UAL’s chairman, president and chief executive officer. “The $3 billion share repurchase program we announced today demonstrates the confidence we have in our future. We will continue to invest in our customers, assets and our people, and remain committed to improving our balance sheet, expanding our margins and improving our return on invested capital, and expect our third quarter pre-tax margin to be between 13.5 and 15.5 percent, excluding special items.”

Second-Quarter Revenue and Capacity

For the second quarter of 2015, total revenue was $9.9 billion, a decrease of 4 percent year-over-year. Second-quarter consolidated passenger revenue decreased 3.4 percent to $8.7 billion, compared to the same period in 2014. Ancillary revenue per passenger in the second quarter increased 6.7 percent year-over-year. Second-quarter cargo revenue decreased 1.3 percent year-over-year to $229 million. Other revenue in the second quarter decreased 9.6 percent year-over-year, mostly due to the reduction in sales of fuel to a third party. The corresponding expense decline from this reduction appears in third-party business expense.

Consolidated revenue passenger miles increased 0.7 percent and consolidated available seat miles increased 2.3 percent year-over-year for the second quarter, resulting in a second-quarter consolidated load factor of 83.9 percent.

Second-quarter 2015 consolidated PRASM decreased 5.6 percent and consolidated yield decreased 4.1 percent compared to the second quarter of 2014.

“This quarter, we continued to build and refine our route network, including announcing the move of p.s. transcontinental service to our global gateway hub at Newark Liberty Airport and forming a long-term partnership with Azul Brazilian Airlines. These decisions will enhance our network and provide our customers with more choice and convenience,” said Jim Compton, UAL’s vice chairman and chief revenue officer. “We will continue to improve our leading network by focusing on our strengths, while investing in our people, fleet and products to increase revenue and deliver a flyer-friendly customer experience.”

Read the full report: CLICK HERE

Copyright Photo: Javier Rodriguez/AirlinersGallery.com. United has 23 aging Boeing 747-400s that will be eventually replaced with newer Airbus A350-1000s and Boeing 787-10 Dreamliners. Boeing 747-422 N199UA (msn 29717) arrives in Frankfurt.

United Airlines aircraft slide show (current livery only):ย AG Airline Slide Show

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Delta expands international routes from Minneapolis/St. Paul

Delta Air Lines (Atlanta) is growing its international presence at its Minneapolis/St. Paul hub, with enhanced offerings to Latin America and Europe. The expansion includes:

New nonstop service between Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport (MSP) and Mexico City International Airport, subject to foreign government approval. The flight will mark the first nonstop service operated by any airline between the two cities.

The extension of Delta’s nonstop flight between Minneapolis-St. Paul and Paris-Charles De Gaulle Airport from seasonal to year-round service.

The expansion of Delta’s nonstop service between Minneapolis-St. Paul and London-Heathrow from five days each week to daily service for winter 2010.

In addition to the new Mexico City service, Delta offers nonstop seasonal flights between Minneapolis-St. Paul and six Mexican cities: Cancun, Los Cabos, Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan, Zihuatanejo-Ixtapa and Cozumel. Delta also provides nonstop seasonal service from Minneapolis-St. Paul to three Caribbean destinations: Grand Cayman; Punta Cana, Dominican Republic; and Montego Bay, Jamaica.

The new daily flight to Mexico City, which begins Dec. 18, will be operated with 124-seat Airbus A319 aircraft, which are equipped with 16 First class and 108 Economy seats.

Delta’s service between Minneapolis/St. Paul and Paris will be operated with a Boeing 767-300 ER, which offers 36 BusinessElite seats and 180 seats in Economy. Delta’s service to London-Heathrow will be operated with a Boeing 767-400 ER, which features 40 full flat BusinessElite seats and 205 seats in Economy.

Copyright Photo: Ken Petersen. Boeing 767-432 ER N844MH (msn 29717) taxies past the camera at New York (JFK) in the SkyTeam livery.

Is Delta flying into an “union storm”?

Copyright Photo: Ken Petersen.  Please click on photo for full view, information and other photos.

Copyright Photo: Ken Petersen. Please click on photo for full view, information and other photos.

Delta Air Lines (Atlanta), union free for 80 years, with the acquisition of Northwest Airlines, is flying into an “union storm”, according to TheStreet.com. Delta is hoping it can ward off the coming unionization efforts.

News link:

www.unitedafa.org/contract/negotiations/news/details.aspx?id=5151

Delta unveils its first SkyTeam logojet

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Please click on photo for full view and caption.

Please click on photo for full view and caption.

Delta Air Lines (Atlanta) on March 30 rolled out at Atlanta its first SkyTeam logojet. Boeing 767-432 ER N844MH (msn 29717) went promptly into service as flight DL 176 to Dublin on the same day. Each SkyTeam member is expected to have a SkyTeam plane painted by the end of the year.