United Airlines will start a new route linking the San Francisco hub with Montreal on July 1 with Boeing 737-8 MAX 8 aircraft.
United Airlines aircraft photo gallery (Boeing):
United Airlines will start a new route linking the San Francisco hub with Montreal on July 1 with Boeing 737-8 MAX 8 aircraft.
United Airlines aircraft photo gallery (Boeing):
United Airlines (UAL) today reported first-quarter 2024 financial results. The company had a pre-tax loss of $164 million, a $92 million improvement over the same quarter last year; adjusted pre-tax loss1 of $79 million, a $187 million improvement on an adjusted basis over the same quarter last year. These earnings reflect the approximately $200 million impact from the Boeing 737 MAX 9 grounding, without which the company would have reported a quarterly profit. In the quarter, the company generated $2.8 billion operating cash flow and free cash flow1 of $1.5 billion. The company continues to expect full-year 2024 adjusted diluted earnings per share3 of $9 to $11.
United delivered strong financial and operational performance in the quarter. The demand environment remained strong with a double-digit percentage increase in business demand quarter over quarter, as compared to pre-pandemic. Additionally, the company was able to take advantage of a number of opportunities to adjust domestic capacity which drove meaningful improvements in first quarter profitability. Atlantic and Domestic markets both saw large passenger revenue per available seat mile (PRASM) increases year over year, with 11% and 6% growth respectively.
“I want to thank the United team for working so hard this quarter to deliver strong operational metrics for our customers and sharpen our focus on safety, while producing excellent financial results for our shareholders,” said United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby. “We’ve adjusted our fleet plan to better reflect the reality of what the manufacturers are able to deliver. And, we’ll use those planes to capitalize on an opportunity that only United has: profitably grow our mid-continent hubs and expand our highly profitable international network from our best in the industry coastal hubs.”
Fleet Update
United has made several adjustments to its long-term fleet strategy based on future needs of the airline and manufacturers production and delivery timelines that are expected to smooth out and moderate the company’s aircraft delivery schedule in the coming years including:
In the short run, the company expects a small number of aircraft previously scheduled to enter into service in the second quarter to be pushed into the third quarter, which is expected to have minimal impact on the company’s capacity plans.
First-Quarter Financial Results
Key Highlights
Customer Experience
Operations
Network
Employees, Sustainability & Communities
United Airlines aircraft photo gallery (Boeing):
From CNN:
United Airlines aircraft photo gallery (Airbus):
United Airlines has launched a new digital tool on its app and united.com that makes it easier for customers who use wheelchairs to find flights that can best accommodate the specific dimensions of their personal mobility device. The airline also announced that eligible customers may seek a refund of the fare difference if a customer needs to pay more for a flight that can accommodate their wheelchair.
Last year, United and United Express together carried more than 200,000 checked wheelchairs.
In addition to working with the airline’s Accessible Travel Advisory Board, United collaborated with United Spinal Association and Numotion to develop these industry-first initiatives.
How It Works
Customers with a personal wheelchair can visit the United app or united.com and use the filters on the flight search results page before selecting their flight. After clicking on the wheelchair filter tab near the upper portion of the screen, customers can then enter the specific dimensions of their mobility device. The search results will identify which flight options will accommodate those dimensions and indicate to the customer that their wheelchair fits. The size of aircraft cargo hold doors varies, so some aircraft are better able than others to handle larger motorized wheelchairs.
If a customer is unable to take a preferred flight because their wheelchair will not fit through the aircraft’s cargo door – and takes a United flight with a higher-fare that can accommodate their wheelchair on the same day and between the same origin and destination – the customer may seek a refund of the fare difference.
The wheelchair sizing tool launched as a beta test earlier this month.
Airport Experience Pilot Program
United is also testing a new program at George Bush Houston Intercontinental Airport to better accommodate customers in the unlikely event their wheelchair was damaged or delayed while traveling. The pilot program focuses on the timeframe between a customer’s arrival and when United returns the wheelchair or provides an appropriate loaner wheelchair if the original is damaged.
United is currently testing specialized, adjustable Permobil cushions for loaner wheelchairs at its Houston hub that better match the customer’s needs and improve comfort and stability. The airline is also reimbursing customers for transportation expenses should they choose to wait at a location other than the airport.
United’s Commitment to Accessibility
United has made several product and policy changes recently to improve the experience for people with disabilities:
For the eighth-straight year, United was recognized as a Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion and earned a top score on the Disability Equality Index benchmarking tool, a joint initiative of the American Association of People with Disabilities and Disability:IN, to advance the inclusion of people with disabilities.
United Airlines aircraft photo gallery (BVoeing):
Analysis of airlines fleet sizes:
From Visual Approach Analytics:
United Airlines announced today that it is installing new, larger overhead bins on its Skywest operated Embraer E175 fleet that will provide more room for passengers’ roll aboard carry-on bags. These new bins will be available on 50 aircraft with a 76-seat configuration by the end of this year. United may expand the E175 larger overhead bins offering to more than 150 aircraft by the end of 2026.
United is the first airline to offer these larger overhead bins on E175 airplanes and estimates this move will nearly eliminate the need for one million annual passengers to gate-check bags on more than 150,000 E175 flights.
United is enhancing the passenger experience by adding larger overhead bins on the Embraer E175 fleet to increase customer convenience and improve operational efficiency. The new bins will accommodate up to an extra 29 carry-on bags on the regional jets, which is an 80 percent increase in space.
United now has more than 200 mainline aircraft outfitted with bins large enough to fit every passenger’s carry-on bag and is in the process of retrofitting its domestic narrowbody fleet. The new overhead bins in the regional fleet will provide a seamless connecting experience for customers. Every E175 aircraft outfitted with these overhead bins will also have braille and tactile placards that enhance accessibility, part of a larger initiative the airline announced in 2023.
United Airlines and United Express operate an average of more than 4,000 flights a day to over 350 airports across 6 continents. SkyWest is the world’s largest E175 operator and flies more than 700 daily departures to more than 140 destinations as United Express. In 2023, United became the world’s largest carrier as measured by seat-miles, carrying more than 150 million passengers.
United Express-SkyWest Airlines aircraft photo gallery:
United Airlines has formally cancelled its outstanding order for the uncertified Boeing 737-10 MAX 10. Instead the aircraft will be built as the smaller 737-9 MAX 9.
According to United CEO Scott Kirby, “We’ve asked Boeing to stop building MAX 10s, which they’ve done, for us and start building MAX 9s,”
“It’s impossible to say when MAX 10 is going to get certified.”
United previously had 277 firm orders for the 737-10 MAX 10.
On June 29, 2021, Boeing and United Airlines announced the carrier would expand its 737 order book by purchasing an additional 200 737 MAX jets, including 150 for the largest member of the family, the 737-10, and 50 for the airplane that serves the heart of the single-aisle market, the 737-8.
At that time, the purchase increased United’s order book for the fuel-efficient, single-aisle family to 380 airplanes.
As the launch customer for the 737-10, United placed its first order in 2017 by converting 100 737-9 orders to the larger 737-10 variant.
The 737-10 was designed to seat up to 230 passengers in a single-class configuration and a range up to 3,300 miles.
Top Copyright Photo: This will become a rare photo: United Airlines Boeing 737-10 MAX 10 N27602 (msn 43510) (The future is SAF) PAE (Nick Dean). Image: 961800.
United Airlines aircraft photo gallery (Boeing):
United Airlines has announced it is expanding its leading global route network, adding new nonstop flights between Newark-Marrakesh, Morocco; Tokyo/Narita-Cebu, Philippines and Houston-Medellin, Colombia.
United will also increase flying to popular destinations across the globe including Hong Kong; Seoul, South Korea and Porto, Portugal. Additionally, the airline will add four weekly flights between Los Angeles and Shanghai as the Chinese and U.S. governments recently agreed to increase flights between the two countries*.
United now has the largest and most diversified international route network among U.S. airlines, offering nonstop service to 134 international destinations across 67 countries. United offers flights to more destinations across the Atlantic and Pacific than all U.S. carriers combined.
In addition to flying to the most popular international destinations, United has been a trailblazer in introducing its customers to off-the-beaten-path locales around the globe – including flights to nine destinations that no other carriers serve from the mainland U.S., like Palma de Mallorca, Spain; Christchurch, New Zealand; Dubrovnik, Croatia and more.
Newark-Marrakesh, Morocco
Next winter, United will have the most flights to the most destinations in Africa from metro New York – and will be the only airline to directly connect the U.S. and Marrakesh – with new service from Newark, launching October 24. The flight will be offered three times weekly on a Boeing 767-300ER aircraft, equipped with 46 United Polaris® business class and 22 United Premium Plus® seats to provide options for an elevated travel experience.
This new service further expands United’s presence in Africa, building on the airline’s existing service to Accra, Ghana; Lagos, Nigeria; and Cape Town and Johannesburg, South Africa.
Tokyo/Narita-Cebu, Philippines
United expands its presence in the Philippines with new year-round, non-stop service from Tokyo-Narita, starting July 31. United will be the only U.S. carrier to fly to Cebu with daily flights on 737-800 aircraft, which will have convenient connections from United’s flights from San Francisco, Los Angeles, Denver, Newark-New York, and Houston to Tokyo-Narita. United is the only U.S. carrier to offer transpacific service to the Philippines with its daily flights between San Francisco and Manila, and also flies to Manila from Guam and Palau.
Houston-Medellin, Colombia
For the first time ever, United will fly nonstop to Medellin, Colombia with daily service from Houston on Boeing 737 aircraft, beginning October 27. This new route expands United’s presence in Colombia, complementing existing service from Houston and Newark to Bogota. In total, United will serve 52 destinations in Latin America from Houston.
United’s 2024 International Schedule
In addition to this new service, United will also expand flying to more destinations across the globe this year. The airline is continuing to rebuild its mainland China schedule, with four weekly flights between Shanghai-Los Angeles on a Boeing 787-9, starting August 29. Further, in late October, Shanghai-Los Angeles will increase to daily service. This service complements United’s daily service between San Francisco-Shanghai and San Francisco-Beijing. This enhanced service is enabled by the agreement between the governments of the U.S. and China to increase flights between the two countries.
United is also adding more flights to Hong Kong and Seoul, South Korea. United will launch its second daily Los Angeles-Hong Kong flight on a Boeing 787-9 aircraft on October 26, complementing its two existing daily flights to Hong Kong from San Francisco. The airline will also offer year-round, twice daily flights between San Francisco-Seoul, starting October 25. Additionally, United recently expanded its Tokyo service with a new route between Haneda and Guam, launching in May.
Across the Atlantic, United will add a second daily flight between New York/Newark-Porto, Portugal on a Boeing 757-200, starting May 23. United has more flights to Portugal than all U.S. carriers combined and is the only U.S. carrier to serve Porto.
*Flights subject to government approvals
United Airlines aircraft photo gallery (Boeing):
United Airlines has opened a new, 150,000-square-foot building at its Flight Training Center in Denver. Already the largest facility of its kind in the world, the additional building gives the airline the capability to add 12 more advanced full-motion flight simulators to the facility, six of which have already been delivered.
So far in 2024, the airline has hired more than 300 pilots after hiring more than 2,300 pilots last year. The new building at the campus adds even more training capacity for United’s 16,000 pilots.
United’s Flight Training Center now has eight total buildings, more than 700,000 square feet of training space, and 46 state-of-the-art full-motion flight simulators.
These investments in people, infrastructure and technology continue to fuel the airline’s United Next plan.
United CEO Scott Kirby was joined by leaders from the Flight Training Center and Denver Mayor Mike Johnston to celebrate the opening and show off the facility.
New Capabilities
Located in the Central Park neighborhood of Denver, the facility spans 23-acres and is the sole training facility for the airline’s nearly 16,000 active pilots and all newly hired pilots. All United pilots complete intensive simulator training with pilot instructors and evaluators during the initial qualification process and every nine months thereafter to maintain their certifications at United’s Flight Training Center in Denver.
Flight Training Center’s Local Impact
United invested more than $145 million in the new building and it’s expected to lead to more than 370 new jobs. In total, more than 1,600 of United’s 10,000+ Denver-based employees work at United’s Flight Training Center, representing 24 different departments in roles that include flight instructing, flight evaluating, scheduling, pilot hiring, human resources and flight standards. In 2023, more than $44 million was spent on hotel room nights in Denver for pilots visiting the training facility, with an expectation to spend more than $65 million in 2024.
United’s Flight Training Center was originally constructed between 1966-68 as part of the Stapleton Airport complex and has served as United’s main pilot training facility since then. Since 2016, United has invested $370 million in the Flight Training Center overall.
United in Denver
United continues to invest in Denver. In the summer of 2023, United announced the purchase of two parcels of undeveloped land near Denver International Airport (DEN), part of which will be used to further expand its Flight Training Center as the current Flight Training Center site does not have capacity for additional growth. United is aiming to have flight training capabilities at the Flight Training Center expansion by 2028.
As home to its fastest-growing hub, the airline has funneled nearly $1 billion in the past few years alone to further improve the customer experience at DEN. This includes new gates, state-of-the-art United clubs, including the largest in the United network to-date, and a new check-in lobby. United hired more than 2,500 people in Denver last year and plans to hire more than 1,000 people in 2024.
United operates the most flights and carries the most passengers in the state compared to any other carrier. This summer, United will offer more than 500 daily departures from DEN, including 40 new summer flights. The airline provides service to more than 175 destinations, including 10 countries, from the Mile High City.
Careers Take Flight
United is the career destination of choice for pilots, offering the largest widebody fleet in North America, and the most comprehensive global network and hubs across the U.S. In 2023, United pilots, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, International, ratified a new four-year contract.
United offers a broad range of paths to the flight deck to ensure that the best pilots can find their opportunity at United:
United Airlines aircraft photo gallery (Airbus):
You must be logged in to post a comment.