United Continental releases 4Q2010 and FY2010 guidance
United Continental Holdings expects (22-Dec-2010) to end the year with USD8.6 billion to USD8.7 billion in unrestricted cash and short-term investments. The company also released the following consolidated financial and traffic guidance:
- 4Q2010 forecast:
- Passenger traffic (RPMs): +3.7% to +4.7% year-on-year;
- Capacity (ASMs): +4.2%;
- Passenger load factor: 81.5% to 82.3%;
- Passenger revenue per ASM: USD 11.71 cents to USD11.82 cents, +9.8% to +10.8%;
- Mainline: USD 10.80 cents to USD10.89 cents, +11.0% to +12.0%;
- Cost per ASM*: USD 12.87 cents to USD 12.91 cents, +6.4% to +6.7%;
- Cost per ASM excl fuel*: USD 8.95 cents to USD 8.99 cents, +2.3% to +2.8%;
- Capital expenditure: USD210 million;
- Fleet related: USD70 million;
- Non-fleet related: USD135 million;
- FY2010 forecast:
- Passenger traffic (RPMs): +3.0% to +4.0%;
- Capacity (ASMs): +1.1%;
- Passenger load factor: 82.7% to 83.5%;
- Passenger revenue per ASM: USD 11.77 cents to USD 11.79 cents, +17.4% to +17.7%;
- Mainline: USD 10.83 cents to USD 10.85 cents, +18.3% to +18.6%;
- Cost per ASM*: USD 12.29 cents to USD 12.30 cents, +7.4% to +7.5%;
- Cost per ASM excl fuel*: USD 8.53 cents to USD 8.54 cents, +2.4% to +2.5%;
- Capital expenditure: USD700 million;
- Fleet related: USD270 million;
- Non fleet related: USD395 million. [more]
*Excludes profit sharing, certain accounting charges and merger-related expenses
United Continental Holdings: "Compared to the same period last year, for the next six weeks, mainline domestic advance booked seat factor is up 0.2 points, mainline international advance booked seat factor is down 1.9 points, mainline Atlantic advance booked seat factor is down 5.2 points, mainline Pacific advance booked seat factor is up 4.3 points and mainline Latin America advance booked seat factor is down 3.6 points. Regional Affiliates advance booked seat factor is flat to up 0.1 points," Company statement. Source: United Continental Holdings, 22-Dec-2010.