United Airlines’ profit up 30 percent as it recoups most fuel costs
United Airlines’ fortunes continue to fly high as the carrier posted third-quarter profit growth of 30%.
It lifted its full-year outlook despite the ever-present concern over still rising fuel costs.
United Continental shares rose nearly 5% in after-hours trading.
The airline says it has achieved the difficult task of recouping most of the extra fuel costs with higher ticket prices and fees.
Total operating revenue was up 11.2% to $11 billion year-on-year and paid out $2.6 billion on third quarter fuel costs.
The airline boosted overall capacity by more than 5% and just announced a big expansion from six hubs, including new flights to Alaska and Hilton Head Island, SC, which will be linked with Chicago, Newark and Washington, D.C.
"With more than 40 new domestic routes added this year, we remain committed to expanding our network to offer customers even more choices in their travel destinations," said Ankit Gupta, United’s vice president of domestic network planning.
"The expansion to Hilton Head Island from three of our hub cities and the introduction of New York’s only nonstop service to Anchorage and Pensacola, are just some of the ways we are responding to customer interest and demand."
United is introducing a new nonstop service from Washington Dulles to Asheville, NC, as well as new nonstops out of LA and San Francisco.
TravelMole Editorial Team
Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travelers with new no-boarding directive
In Italy, the Meloni government congratulates itself for its tourism achievements