United Continental reports operating profitability in 4Q2011, net loss narrows

United Continental revenue up 6% - financial highlights:

• Three months ended 31-Dec-2011:
  • Operating revenue: USD8928 million, +5.5% year-on-year;
  • Operating costs: USD8883 million, +3.9%;
    • Fuel: USD3105 million, +26.3%;
    • Labour: USD1910 million, +4.8%;
  • Operating profit: USD45 million, compared to a loss of USD82 million in p-c-p;
  • Net profit (loss): (USD138 million), compared to a loss of USD325 million in p-c-p;
  • Passenger numbers: 34.2 million, -4.3%;
  • Passenger load factor: 81.5%, -0.5 ppt;
  • Passenger revenue per ASM: USD 12.87 cents, +8.2%;
  • Total revenue per ASM: USD 14.71 cents, +8.2%;
  • Yield per RPM: USD 15.80 cents, +9.0%;
  • Cost per ASM: USD 14.63 cents, +6.6%;
  • Cost per ASM excl special items, ancillary business expenses and fuel: USD 9.01 cents, +1.3%;
• 12 months ended 31-Dec-2011:
  • Operating revenue: USD37,110 million, +8.8%;
  • Operating costs: USD35,288 million, +9.6%;
    • Fuel: USD12,375 million, +29.5%;
    • Labour: USD7652 million, +2.2%;
  • Operating profit: USD1822 million, -5.1%;
  • Net profit: USD840 million, -12.0%;
  • Passenger numbers: 141.8 million, -2.6%;
  • Passenger load factor: 82.2%, -1.0 ppt;
  • Passenger revenue per ASM: USD 12.87 cents, +9.2%;
  • Total revenue per ASM: USD 14.70 cents, +9.1%;
  • Yield per RPM: USD 15.67 cents, +10.6%;
  • Cost per ASM: USD 13.97 cents, +9.8%;
  • Cost per ASM excl special items, ancillary business expenses and fuel: USD 8.75 cents, +1.9%;
• 1Q2012 forecast:
  • Capacity (ASMs): -0.7% to +0.3%;
    • Mainline: -0.7% to +0.3%;
  • Cost per ASM excl profit sharing and ancillary business expenses: USD 14.40 cents to USD 14.49 cents, +7.9% to +8.5%;
    • Mainline: USD 13.66 cents to USD 13.75 cents, +9.7% to +10.4%;
• FY2012 forecast:
  • Capacity: -1.0% to stable;
  • Cost per ASM excl profit sharing and ancillary business expenses: USD 14.13 cents to USD 14.22 cents, +4.3% to +5.0%;
    • Mainline: USD 13.44 cents to USD 13.52 cents, +6.2% to +6.8%. [more - original PR]