United stands in the unenviable position of trying to regain corporate share as demand softens

After battling integration challenges that derailed its operations during the northern hemisphere summer of 2012, United Airlines faces the difficult task of attempting to recapture corporate customers lost during that time. Meanwhile the carrier is attempting to control its climbing costs, which increased 11% on a unit basis during 1Q2013.

As its legacy peers Delta and US Airways recorded profits during 1Q2013, United bled USD325 million during the quarter. Factoring in special charges the carriers recorded a USD417 million loss for the first three months of 2013.

Top-line revenues grew just 1.4% to USD9 billion as expenses grew at nearly the same rate, increasing 1.3% to roughly USD9 billion.