United Airlines : UA : UAL

Five US carriers seek Haneda slots

American, Continental, Delta, United and Hawaiian Airlines have all applied for four available slots for US carriers at Tokyo's Haneda airport.
The availability of slots at close-in Haneda resulted from the conclusion of an open skies pact reached between Japan and the USA in December 2009. Haneda is roughly 20km (11 miles) from Tokyo's city centre while Narita is 65km away. Haneda is primarily limited to domestic traffic, but a new runway opening later this year will allow for expansion of long-haul international flights.
"We have long wanted to fly from New York and Los Angeles to Haneda, the closest airport to downtown Tokyo," says Will Ris, American's SVP of Government Affairs.
Oneworld partner American is seeking slots to operate flights from New York's John F Kennedy International airport and Los Angeles International airport using 247-seat Boeing 777s configured with 16 first class, 37 business and 194 economy seats.
Continental and its wholly-owned subsidiary Continental Micronesia are seeking slots to offer flights from Newark and Guam, respectively. Continental would operate Boeing 777s from Newark to Haneda while Continental Micronesia would place a Boeing 767-400 on its flights to Tokyo.
Continental's fellow Star Alliance partner United is seeking one of the slots to offer service from its San Francisco hub using Boeing 777s configured in a three-class configuration. The carrier also highlights the 777 supplies ample capacity for cargo from its hub in San Francisco to Haneda.
United also states that passengers have connecting opportunities with its codeshare partner and fellow Star Alliance member All Nippon Airways (ANA) at Haneda to several points in Japan and Asia. United, ANA and Continental Airlines and Oneworld members American Airlines and Japan Airlines (JAL) are seeking anti-trust approval from US regulators to establish transpacific joint ventures as a result of the open skies agreement. The firming up of open skies between the USA and Japan is contingent on ANA and JAL receiving anti-trust approval with their respective US partners.
Delta, who ultimately failed to convice JAL to shift from Oneworld its SkyTeam alliance, is seeking slots to offer flights from Haneda to Seattle, Detroit, Los Angeles and Honolulu. On its proposed flights to Haneda from Detroit, Los Angeles and Honolulu Delta would operate Boeing 747-400s, and fly Airbus A330-300s from Seattle.
"Enabling Delta to enter Haneda is critical to advancing airline competition in Tokyo, particularly considering the strong presence that the Star and Oneworld alliance carriers already enjoy at this important and tightly controlled airport," says Glen Hauenstein, Delta's EVP network and revenue management. Through its merger with Northwest Airlines, Delta has a strong presence at Narita.
Hawaiian, meanwhile, is requesting two of the four slots to support two daily nonstop flights from Honolulu to Haneda using Boeing 767-300ER aircraft. Hawaiian tells regulators as the first of its Airbus A330s come online later this year, 767s will be free for use on the proposed flights to Haneda.
But the carrier anticipates growing the service to support flights operated by its larger A330s.
Hawaiian tells US regulators the proposed Honolulu-Haneda flights are the next logical step for establishing itself as a major carrier in the Pacific. In addition to offering mainline service to the USA, Hawaiian also offers flights from Honolulu to Australia, Tahiti, the Philippines and American Samoa.
Most of the carrier's anticipate starting flights to Haneda in late 2010.

United passe une commande ferme pour 25 Airbus A350

(AFP) – il y a 1 heure
PARIS — La compagnie américaine United Airlines a signé une commande ferme pour 25 long-courriers Airbus A350, un contrat de 6,3 milliards de dollars au prix catalogue, confirmant un engagement pris en décembre, a annoncé mercredi l'avionneur.
"United a formalisé un engagement annoncé en décembre 2009, en signant une commande ferme pour 25 A350-900 XWB", indique Airbus dans un communiqué.
La compagnie aérienne américaine avait annoncé en décembre son intention de commander 25 A350 et 25 Boeing 787 "Dreamliner". Elle a en outre placé une option pour acheter 50 exemplaires supplémentaires de chacun des deux appareils.
Les vingt-cinq A350 seront livrés entre 2016 et 2019 et équipés de moteurs du britannique Rolls Royce, précise Airbus mercredi.
Le carnet de commandes du futur long-courrier d'Airbus comprend désormais 530 appareils et 33 clients.
Airbus, qui vise entre 250 et 300 commandes brutes (avant annulations éventuelles) tous types d'avions confondus cette année, n'avait engrangé aucune nouvelle commande au mois de février.
Le premier exemplaire de l'A350, un avion largement construit en matériaux composites, doit être livré par Airbus à l'été 2013.
Le calendrier de développement de cet avion est un peu plus sous pression, a reconnu mardi Louis Gallois, le président exécutif d'EADS, maison mère d'Airbus, tout en confirmant la "prévision d'une première livraison en juillet 2013".

CHICAGO--([Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien])--

United customers may enjoy convenient new connections to cities in Europe and Africa under a new codeshare agreement with Brussels Airlines that is open for sale today.

Codeshare flights begin on April 6, 2010 and are in addition to United’s previously announced nonstop service between Chicago and Brussels that launched on March 28.

United customers may now purchase tickets on Brussels Airlines-operated flights between Brussels and 24 European destinations as well as 12 African destinations*, many of which are new United codeshare markets.

Brussels Airlines customers will enjoy codeshare service to two of United's U.S. hubs, Washington Dulles and Chicago O’Hare, allowing connection to hundreds of United's U.S. destinations.

Both airlines are members of the Star Alliance — United is a founding partner, and Brussels Airlines joined as a partner in December of 2009. Members of United's Mileage Plus and Brussels Airlines’ Miles & More programs may continue to
earn and redeem miles while traveling to destinations never-before served.

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UAL Corporation (Nasdaq: UAUA), the holding company whose primary subsidiary is United Airlines, reported results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2010.

The company:

• Reported a first quarter operating profit of $58 million, excluding non-cash, net mark-to-market hedge gains and certain accounting charges as outlined in note 4 of the attached statement of consolidated operations, the company's first operating profit in the first quarter since 2000.
*The company reported a GAAP operating profit of $69 million.

• Reported a first quarter net loss of $92 million, or $0.55 per basic share, excluding non-cash, net mark-to-market hedge gains and certain accounting charges as outlined in note 4 of the attached statement of consolidated operations, narrowing its net loss by $479 million compared to the first quarter of 2009.
The company reported a GAAP net loss of $82 million, or $0.49 per basic share.

• Reported a 19.0% year-over-year increase in consolidated passenger revenue per available seat mile (PRASM) for the first quarter.

• Reported a 4.8% year-over-year increase in consolidated unit cost per available seat mile (CASM) for the quarter, excluding fuel and certain accounting charges, against a reduction in consolidated capacity
of 3.3% year-over-year.

Consolidated CASM, including fuel and excluding non-cash, net mark-to-market fuel hedge gains and certain
accounting charges, was up 6.5% year-over-year. GAAP consolidated unit cost, including these items, was up 8.6%.

• Closed the quarter with total cash of $3.8 billion, unrestricted cash of more than $3.5 billion, and restricted cash of
nearly $300 million. As of April 26, unrestricted cash increased to $4.5 billion, including $700 million in secured debt offering proceeds received in April.

• Ranked No. 1 in on-time arrivals among the five largest U.S. global carriers for the first quarter based on preliminary industry results.

• Finalized agreements for 25 Boeing 787 Dreamliner and 25 Airbus A350 XWB widebody aircraft orders.

• Filed an application for a daily non-stop slot from San Francisco to Tokyo's downtown Haneda airport with the U.S. Department of Transportation, an opportunity enabled by the pending U.S.-Japan Open Skies agreement.

---------------------------------------------------------------

Revenue Trends Continue Solid Improvements

For the first quarter, consolidated PRASM increased 19.0% year-over-year. Consolidated yield improved 12.2% and consolidated load factor increased 4.7 percentage points year-over-year.

The severe winter storms in February reduced revenue for the quarter by approximately $40 million.

[Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] believes that the proposed US airline "mega-merger" will have no impact on its competitiveness during the campaign to replace [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien]' huge [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] fleet, despite Continental's traditional favouritism for the US airframer's products.

However, a US investment bank has indicated that United's existing Airbus orders could become casualties of the planned tie-up.

Airbus's chief operating officer customers John Leahy says the airframer's prospects in the sales battle are good, despite Continental's close ties to Seattle - it had previously agreed a "20-year exclusivity deal" with [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien].

"Any time an airline makes a major change it re-evaluates all the traditional fleet planning assumptions. This merger changes the game, even if Continental has traditionally bought Boeing. They are now going to look for the best airplane," Leahy says.

However, he thinks the merger could push back the timing of United's decision, which had been expected this year. "Every time you get a mega-consolidation you tend to have more aircraft than you need, so any of that refleeting might get delayed a bit."

The merged airline would have combined 50 Boeing 787s and 25 A350s on order - the latter being the legacy of a split deal United agreed last year for Dreamliners and XWBs. However, Wells Fargo senior analyst Sam Pearlstein thinks the merger could threaten the Airbus widebody contract. "Although management has said it was committed to United's [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] orders, with these deliveries more than five years away, it would not be surprising if there were adjustments," he writes in a research note.

"We believe that United's A350 backlog is unclear as it would add one more airplane type to the combined airline."

Pearlstein also notes that while Airbus list United with a firm backlog of 42 A320s, United's "10-K" financial report says it has "the right to buy" these aircraft, but they are not legally binding purchase orders. "From this language we assume United is far from committed to these aircraft; given the merger with Continental, we would think these airplanes may not be taken," he says.

Jaguar a écrit:Bonjour,
Merci Sevrien,

On voit qu'ici sur aeronewsline, le sujet spécifique sur une fusion éventuelle UAL/Continental n'est pas encore ouvert.

Pour le moment, peut-être une bonne chose. D'une façon générale et concernant uniquement la flotte combinée des 2 compagnies concernées,

et à la seule condition que cette fusion soit réalisée

nous en sommes réduits à spéculer, à savoir que sur les quelques 700 appareils à considérer, certains d'entre eux seront sortis de flotte.

Mais de là à dire qu'une commande ou des commandes pendantes (B787 et A350) pourraient purement et simplement annulées, ce serait faire injure aux conseillers des unes et des autres parties en sous entendant que par une absence d'une clause ou d'une autre, un voire des contrats pourrait être frappé de caducité.

Hormis ceci, j'ai vu passer une dépêche dont je ne retrouve plus le lien, disant que ce projet de fusion est déjà contesté au plus haut niveau institutionnel américain.

United Airlines today reported its preliminary consolidated traffic results for June 2010.

Total consolidated revenue passenger miles (RPMs) increased in June by 3.5% on an increase of 1.1% in available seat miles (ASMs) compared with the same period in 2009.

This resulted in a reported June consolidated passenger load factor of 87.9%, an increase of 2.0 points compared to 2009.

For June 2010, consolidated passenger revenue per available seat mile (PRASM) is estimated to have increased 30.5% to 31.5% year over year, 2.7 percentage points of which is due to accounting adjustments booked in the month.

Consolidated PRASM is estimated to have increased 5.0% to 6.0% for June 2010 compared to June 2008, 2.2 percentage points of which is due to accounting adjustments booked in the month.

United reported a U.S. Department of Transportation on-time arrival rate of 79.4% in June.

Average June 2010 mainline fuel price, including gains or losses on settled fuel hedges and excluding non-cash, mark-to-market fuel hedge gains and losses, is estimated to be $2.34 per gallon.
Including non-cash, mark-to-market fuel hedge gains and losses, the estimated fuel price is $2.23 per gallon for the month.

US Justice Department closes review of Continental and United merger

United and Continental have moved a step closer to merging after the US Department of Justice (DOJ) finished is investigation of the deal following the carriers agreeing to lease 18 Newark slot pairs to Southwest Airlines.
Closing of the DOJ review follows clearance for the merger from the European Commission in July. Continental and United explain they're still in discussions with US state attorney generals, and "hope to conclude those discussions expeditiously with a positive outcome".
At the time Continental and United announced their plans to merge in May, questions arose over how long DOJ's review of the tie-up would take. In Congressional hearings scrutinising the proposed merger Representative James Oberstar, who has expressed strong opposition to airline mergers, warned of a "different spirit" in the current Justice Department.
Under the previous administration of President George W. Bush Delta and Northwest received DOJ's endorsement roughly six months after they unveiled plans to merge.
Analysts saw few red flags being raised by DOJ in its review of the Continental and United merger, with JP Morgan estimating the merged carrier would have 13 US domestic nonstop overlaps, with 11 transitioning to monopoly or duopoly status.
Shareholders at Continental and United are scheduled to vote on the merger 17 September, and believe the transaction should close by 1 October. The carriers are aiming to achieve a single operating certificate from the US FAA by mid-2012.

United Posts Double-Digit Revenue Growth

United Airlines continued to post double-digit unit revenue growth in August, although a little below levels recorded in preceding months.
The rise of 18-19% in passenger revenue per available seat mile was produced on a 1.7% year-on-year increase in capacity to 13 billion ASMs and 2.5% growth in traffic to 11.3 billion revenue passenger miles.
Load factor rose 0.6 percentage points to 86.7%.
The company’s unit revenue was about the same as in 2008, a year the airline has used as a benchmark to illustrate the recovery in sales.
In a relatively stable month, United posted load factor declines in its Atlantic and Latin American networks, and both of these were caused by oversupply. Transatlantic loads, for instance, fell 3.2 points to 85.3% as a 7.1% rise in capacity to 2.2 billion ASMs generated just 3.2% more traffic, while a 6.5% increase in Latin American supply to 345.6 million ASMs produced 4.4% more traffic, depressing loads 1.6 points to 81.1%.
However, a 5.9% rise in transpacific demand to 2.4 billion RPMs on 1.4% more capacity not only increased that sector’s loads 3.7 points to 88.3%, it also added 0.3 points to United's total international load factor, which grew to 86.5% in August.
Domestic mainline loads also improved--0.8 points to 88.7% on a 3.3% dip in capacity to 6.1 billion ASMs, while a 13.7% gain in United’s regional supply to 1.9 billion ASMs still produced a 1.9-point rise in loads to 81%.

Shareholders Approve Continental-United Merger

Shareholders at both Continental Airlines and merger partner United Airlines have approved the carriers’ integration, decisions that all but guarantee the deal’s completion on Oct. 1.
“We are grateful for our stockholders’ strong vote of confidence in this merger,” says Continental’s Chairman, President and CEO Jeffery Smisek in a release. “In approving the transaction, our stockholders recognized the value of bringing together Continental and United to create a platform for increased profitability and sustainable long-term value.”
According to Continental, 75% of the ballot supported the merger during a special shareholder meeting held in Houston. Under the $3 billion all-stock arrangement, Continental’s shareholders will receive 1.05 of United’s shares for each one they currently hold in the Houston-based airline.
United’s shareholders, who will own 55% of the merged company, also approved the agreement, says Continental, although that vote’s results are not currently available.
These votes were one of the last obstacles to the merger after the U.S. Justice Department cleared the deal and Ohio’s State Attorney General accepted the companies’ commitment to Continental’s hub in Cleveland.
The two airlines, however, still are in talks with several other state attorneys general and await judgment on a court case brought by travel agents in the San Francisco area. Final testimony in that case is scheduled for today.
Should these final issues be resolved, the new United expects to formally emerge on Oct. 1. Although no operational changes will occur, the two companies will immediately begin merging their senior management teams as previously disclosed. The airlines expect full integration to be completed in 2012.

Judge Mulls Delaying Merger of United, Continental

SAN FRANCISCO(AP) -- A federal judge is considering whether to delay the merger of Continental Airlines In] and United Airlines Inc. while an antitrust lawsuit is pending.
San Francisco lawyer Joseph Alioto filed a lawsuit in June on behalf of 49 air travelers who allege the merger will lead to increased prices from decreased competition.
Alioto on Friday asked U.S District Court Judge Richard Seeborg to stop the merger until a jury can consider the lawsuit.
A lawyer for the airlines, Katherine Forrest, argued against a delay. She told the judge the two companies planned to complete the merger Oct. 1.
Shareholders of both companies overwhelmingly approved the deal Friday, and the U.S. Department of Justice last month gave its approval.
The judge said he will rule before Oct. 1.

Judge clears last hurdle to United-Continental merger

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A federal judge has [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] to block the merger of United and Continental airlines, clearing the way for the deal to close by Friday.
Judge Richard Seeborg ruled that 49 travelers who sued to halt the deal failed to show they personally would be harmed enough to stop it from moving forward. Regulators and shareholders already have approved the merger.

United Airlines operated 8.6 billion mainline RPMs in September, up 5.8% from the year-ago month. Capacity increased 2.7% to 10.2 billion ASMs, producing a load factor of 84.5%, up 2.4 points.

United Continental Holdings, parent of merger partners United Airlines and Continental Airlines, reported pro forma 2010 net income of $854 million, reversed from a combined UA/CO loss of $718 million in 2009.

But despite a 15% rise in pro forma fourth quarter revenue to $8.43 billion, net loss for the period widened 22.2% to $326 million owing to $485 million in special charges mostly related to the merger which closed last October ([Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien]).

President and CEO Jeff Smisek said UCH has made "significant progress integrating United and Continental." Smisek told analysts and reporters during a Wednesday conference call that UCH is on track to achieve 25% of the projected $1.2 billion in annual merger synergies in 2011.

Executive VP and Chief Revenue Officer Jim Compton emphasized that UCH maintains a "commitment to capacity discipline," noting that full-year 2011 consolidated capacity will rise just 1%-2% compared to 2010 including a 0.5%-1.5% cut domestically and a 4.5%-5.5% increase on international flying.

UCH estimates that first-quarter fuel prices will be up 18% compared to the 2010 December quarter.

Executives said the company is satisfied with the combined UA/CO aircraft order book, which includes 25 Airbus A350s (UA) and 25 Boeing 787s (CO).

Compton said that despite the Dreamliner program's repeated delays, "We remain big believers in the 787."
Full-year 2010 pro forma revenue heightened 18.9%, compared to 2009, to $34 billion while expenses increased 12.5% to $32.2 billion, producing a pro forma operating profit of $1.82 billion, reversed from a combined UA/CO operating deficit of $17 million in 2009.

Consolidated mainline traffic rose 2.3% to 184.58 billion RPKs on a 0.1% lowering of capacity to 220.06 billion ASKs, producing a load factor of 83.9%, up 2 points.

Yield jumped 15.6% to 11.21 cents as RASM improved 18.3% to 12.74 cents and CASM increased 12.3% to 12 cents. CASM ex-fuel was up 4.5% to 8.14 cents.

United voluntarily grounds Boeing 757s to ensure AD compliance


Flightglobal has confirmed that United Airlines has decided to voluntarily ground its Boeing 757-200s to ensure compliance with an Airworthiness Directive (AD).
The Flightglobal ACAS fleet database shows that currently United operates 96 of the type.

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The AD requires a modification to the air data computer system, which involves installing certain new circuit breakers, relays and related components and making various wiring changes in and between the flight deck and main equipment centre.
The reference number of the AD is 2004-10-05.

Jeannot a écrit:Nouveau problème de décompression lié à un "trou" dans la cralingue d'un 737 de SouthWest

Flight Lands After ‘Fuselage Rupture’

PHOENIX (AP) — One passenger said it was a "real quick blast, like a gun." Another called it "pandemonium." Still another described watching a flight attendant and another passenger pass out, their heads striking the seats in front of them as they lost consciousness.

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A photo provided by a passenger of a Southwest Airlines plane that landed Friday after its cabin decompressed

Federal officials said it was a "fuselage rupture" — a large hole on the top of the Boeing 737 — that led to a loss of cabin pressure and a terrifying descent from 36,000 feet to an emergency landing at a military base in the Arizona desert.
No serious injuries were reported among the 118 aboard, according to Southwest Airlines, and the FBI said it was a "mechanical failure," not an act of terror or other foul play. The cause of the hole was not immediately known.
Passenger Brenda Reese said Flight 812 had just left Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport for Sacramento, Calif., when a "gunshot-like sound" woke her up. She said oxygen masks dropped for passengers and flight attendants as the plane dove.
Ian Gregor, a Federal Aviation Administration spokesman in Los Angeles, said the pilot "made a rapid, controlled descent from 36,000 feet to 11,000 feet altitude."
[Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien], who was seated one row from the rupture, said it took about four noisy minutes for the plane to dip to less than 10,000 feet, which made him "lightheaded."
During the rapid descent, "people were dropping," said Christine Ziegler, a 44-year-old project manager from Sacramento who watched as a crew member and a fellow passenger nearby faint, hitting their heads on the seats in front of them.
Larry Downey, who was seated directly below the hole when it opened, told Phoenix TV station KPNX that "it was pandemonium."
"You could look out and see blue sky," he said.
Joshua Hardwicke said he was awakened by a "sound like you shook up a pop can and dropped on the ground. It was like a firecracker."
The 24-year-old motorcycle technician was seated seven rows from the hole, which Reese described as "at the top of the plane, right up above where you store your luggage."
"The panel's not completely off," she told The Associated Press. "It's like ripped down, but you can see completely outside... When you look up through the panel, you can see the sky."
Cellphone photographs provided by Reese showed a panel hanging open in a section above the plane's middle aisle, with a hole of about six feet long. Nelson compared the noise to a gun, "a real quick blast," and said when the hole "first blew out, you could tell there was an oxygen deficiency."
The plane landed at a military base in Yuma without any injuries reported, except for a flight attendant who was slightly injured, according to the airline. Reese said the crewmember fell and injured his nose, and that some people passed out "because they weren't getting the oxygen."
The [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] said an "in-flight fuselage rupture" led to the drop in cabin pressure aboard the 15-year-old plane. A similar incident on a Southwest plane to Baltimore in July 2009 also forced an emergency landing when a foot-long hole opened in the cabin.
Four months earlier, the Dallas-based airline had agreed to pay $7.5 million to settle charges that it operated planes that had missed required safety inspections for cracks in the fuselage. The airline, which flies Boeing 737s, inspected nearly 200 of its planes back then, found no cracks and put them back in the sky.
Julie O'Donnell, an aviation safety spokeswoman for Seattle-based Boeing Commercial Airplanes, confirmed "a hole in the fuselage and a depressurization event" in the latest incident but declined to speculate on what caused it.
Reese said there was "no real panic" among the passengers, who applauded the pilot after he emerged from the cockpit following the emergency landing at Yuma Marine Corps Air Station/International Airport, some 150 miles southwest of Phoenix and about 40 minutes after takeoff from Sky Harbor.
"It was unreal. Everybody was like they were high school chums," Ziegler said, describing a scene in which passengers comforted and hugged each other after the plane was on the ground. Southwest sent another airliner to take them to Sacramento later Friday.
"I fly a lot. This is the first time I ever had something like this happen," said Reese, a 37-year-old single mother of three who is vice president for a clinical research organization. "I just want to get home and hold my kids."
Gregor said an FAA inspector from Phoenix was en route to Yuma. The NTSB said it also was sending a crew to Yuma.
Holes in aircrafts can be caused by metal fatigue or lightning. The [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] said the weather was clear from the Phoenix area to the California border on Friday afternoon.
In 1988, cracks caused part of the roof of an Aloha Airlines Boeing 737 to peel open while the jet flew from Hilo to Honolulu. A flight attendant was sucked out of the plane and plunged to her death, and dozens of passengers were injured.

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Sevrien a écrit: Boeing commence à avoir un historique d'incidents de "depressurisation", et de "trous" et points faibles dans le fuselage.

Aviation regulators will order tougher inspections of hundreds of Boeing 757 planes worldwide, after a recent in-flight incident that left a hole in the fuselage of an American Airlines plane, The Wall Street Journal reported on Friday.

According to the newspaper, the Federal Aviation Administration has drafted enhanced inspection mandates after a in-flight incident that occurred on October 26 when an American plane was cruising at 31,000 feet en route from Miami to Boston.

A Boeing spokeswoman told The Wall Street Journal that the company has already issued a bulletin urging carriers to inspect the upper forward skin on certain 757s to detect potential cracks.

The American jet, a Boeing 757-200, made an emergency landing at [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] after experiencing a rapid decompression, not long after the aircraft had departed Miami en route to [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien].
AA flight 1640 was carrying 154 passengers and 6 crew. The crew donned their oxygen masks and initiated an emergency descent as the passenger oxygen masks were deployed.
A post flight inspection revealed a hole of about 1 foot by 2 feet (33 by 66cm) just above the “A” of the American Airlines Logo.

According to the Journal, the same month cracks were found in the fuselage of a United Airlines Boeing 757. Another American 757 was undergoing repairs in Los Angeles this week due to fuselage cracks.

United Continental Holdings, Inc. Announces Second-Quarter 2011 Profit

UAL REPORTS SECOND-QUARTER $577 MILLION NET PROFIT EXCLUDING SPECIAL ITEMS; $538 MILLION NET PROFIT ON GAAP BASIS


CHICAGO, July 21, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- United Continental Holdings, Inc. today announced second-quarter 2011 financial results. UAL results for the second quarter include the financial results of its two operating subsidiaries, United Airlines and Continental Airlines. Prior to the merger on Oct. 1, 2010, UAL results included only the financial results of United. Pro forma results that consolidate the financial results for Continental for the second-quarter 2010 and six months ended June 30, 2010, are included for meaningful year-over-year comparisons.

• UAL reported a second-quarter 2011 net profit of $577 million or $1.49 per diluted share, excluding $39 million of net special items consisting primarily of integration-related costs and a one-time non-cash adjustment to revenue. On a GAAP basis, UAL reported a second-quarter 2011 net profit of $538 million or $1.39 per diluted share.
  
• UAL consolidated passenger revenue increased 10.1 percent in the second quarter of 2011 compared to the pro forma results for the same period in 2010. Second-quarter 2011 consolidated passenger revenue per available seat mile (PRASM) increased 9.0 percent compared to the pro forma results year-over-year.
  
• Second-quarter 2011 consolidated fuel expense, excluding the impact of hedges, increased 45.2 percent, or $1.1 billion, year-over-year on a pro forma basis.
  
• UAL ended the quarter with $8.6 billion in unrestricted cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments.
  

"Thanks to the hard work of my co-workers, who managed through tough weather issues and many integration changes during the quarter, we are making steady progress toward building the world's leading airline," said Jeff Smisek, UAL's president and chief executive officer. "We are well positioned to deliver on the once-in-a-lifetime opportunities that this merger presents for our company and our people."
Second-Quarter Revenue and Capacity
For the second quarter of 2011, total revenue excluding special items was $9.7 billion, an increase of 9.1 percent compared to the pro forma results for the same period in 2010. Total revenue during the second quarter, including special items, increased 10.3 percent to $9.8 billion year-over-year on a pro forma basis. Consolidated passenger revenue, including special items, for the second quarter rose 10.1 percent to $8.6 billion, compared to the pro forma results for the same period in 2010.
Consolidated revenue passenger miles (RPMs) for the second quarter of 2011 decreased 0.1 percent on a pro forma basis, while capacity (available seat miles or ASMs) increased 1.0 percent year-over-year on a pro forma basis, resulting in a second-quarter consolidated load factor of 83.4 percent.
Consolidated yield for the second quarter of 2011 increased 10.3 percent year-over-year on a pro forma basis. Second-quarter 2011 consolidated PRASM increased 9.0 percent compared to the pro forma results for the same period in 2010.
Mainline RPMs in the second quarter of 2011 were flat on a mainline capacity increase of 1.1 percent year-over-year on a pro forma basis, resulting in a second-quarter mainline load factor of 84.1 percent. Mainline yield for the second quarter of 2011 increased 10.3 percent over the pro forma results for the same period in 2010. Second-quarter 2011 mainline PRASM increased 9.1 percent year-over-year on a pro forma basis.
"Our capacity discipline drove solid unit revenue and yield growth in the second quarter," said Jim Compton, UAL's executive vice president and chief revenue officer. "We will continue to offer products our customers value and are willing to pay for."
Due to the decline in demand for travel to Japan following the March 11, 2011, earthquake and tsunami, the company reduced capacity to and from Japan by 11.8 percent during the quarter. UAL estimates that second-quarter consolidated passenger revenue decreased by approximately $100 million as a result of the reduced demand due to the tragedy in Japan.
Passenger revenue for the second quarter of 2011 and period-to-period comparisons of related pro forma statistics for UAL's mainline and regional operations are as follows:

		2Q 2011 Passenger Revenue (millions)		Passenger Revenue vs. 2Q 2010	PRASM vs. 2Q 2010	Yield vs. 2Q 2010	ASM vs. 2Q 2010
Domestic		$3,435		7.7%	9.7%	9.6%	(1.8%)
Atlantic		1,625		13.4%	5.6%	8.3%	7.3%
Pacific		1,123		3.8%	5.7%	7.9%	(1.8%)
Latin America		681		30.8%	20.2%	22.7%	8.8%
International		$3,429		12.9%	8.3%	10.8%	4.3%
Mainline		$6,864		10.3%	9.1%	10.3%	1.1%
Regional		1,742		9.5%	8.8%	10.3%	0.6%
Consolidated		$8,606		10.1%	9.0%	10.3%	1.0%

Cargo and other revenue in the second quarter of 2011 increased 2.0 percent, or $22 million, year-over-year on a pro forma basis.
Second-Quarter Costs
Total consolidated expenses, including special items, increased $974 million, or 12.1 percent, in the second quarter compared to the pro forma results for the same period of 2010. Second-quarter fuel costs, excluding the impact of fuel hedges, increased $1.1 billion year-over-year. During the quarter, the company recognized $278 million of benefit from its fuel hedge settlements. Second-quarter 2011 consolidated expenses, excluding fuel, profit-sharing and special items, increased $171 million, or 3.2 percent, year-over-year on a pro forma basis.
Consolidated costs per available seat mile (CASM), excluding special items, increased 11.1 percent and mainline CASM, excluding special items, increased 10.8 percent in the second quarter of 2011 compared to the pro forma results for the same period last year. Second-quarter consolidated and mainline CASM, including special items, increased 11.0 and 10.7 percent year-over-year on a pro forma basis, respectively.
The company has hedged approximately 51 percent of its expected remaining fuel needs for 2011.
In the second quarter, consolidated and mainline CASM, excluding special items and holding fuel rate and profit sharing constant, increased 1.3 percent and 1.7 percent, respectively, compared to the pro forma results for the same period of 2010.
"This quarter, we moved another step closer to achieving our synergy targets and financial goals, thanks to the efforts of our entire team at the new United," said Zane Rowe, UAL's executive vice president and chief financial officer. "While we still have a lot of work to do, we are working together across the company to outperform our competitors."
Second-Quarter Liquidity and Cash Flow
UAL ended the second quarter of 2011 with $8.6 billion in unrestricted cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments. During the second quarter, the company generated $753 million of operating cash flow and had gross capital expenditures of $178 million. The company made scheduled debt and net capital lease payments of $1.0 billion, including $570 million to repay UAL 4.5% convertible notes put to the company in June. Year-to-date, the company has made $1.8 billion of debt and capital lease payments, including $300 million of prepayments.
Integration Is On Track
During the quarter, United and Continental continued to make steady progress integrating products, services and policies to provide a more consistent travel experience for customers. When traveling on either carrier, customers may now shop for flights, obtain seat assignments and check flight status on united.com and continental.com, and check in and print boarding passes for flights using any United or Continental check-in kiosk at 90 airports worldwide. The carriers introduced Premier Access, a new package of priority airport services for elite-level flyers and premium-cabin customers, and aligned meal, snack and beverage services on board flights and in airport club lounges. In addition, the company announced that United's loyalty program name will be MileagePlus® and offered MileagePlus and OnePass members the ability to combine miles to earn awards faster.
Beginning with Chicago O'Hare International Airport and following at San Francisco International Airport, the company unveiled newly branded signage at airport check-in and boarding areas and remains on track to re-brand its hub airports over the remainder of the year. The carriers have co-located check-in, ticket counter and gate facilities at 46 airports since the closing the merger and now have a single area for check-in at 275 airports systemwide. Nearly half of the total fleet, or 601 aircraft, is now repainted in the new United livery.
Notable Second-Quarter 2011 Accomplishments

• United and Continental recorded U.S. Department of Transportation domestic on-time arrival rates of 77.8 percent and 74.2 percent, respectively, and system completion factors of 98.6 percent and 99.7 percent, respectively, for the second quarter. For international flights, United and Continental recorded on-time arrival rates of 77.7 percent and 79.4 percent, respectively. The on-time arrival rates are based on flights arriving within 14 minutes of scheduled arrival time.
  
• The company accrued $90 million for profit-sharing programs for results of the first six months of 2011, and employees of the combined company earned cash incentive payments for operational performance totaling $5 million during the second quarter of 2011.
  
• The company, in partnership with the Houston Airport System, announced construction at Bush Intercontinental Airport to build a new Terminal B south concourse dedicated to domestic regional jet operations will begin by the end of the year. In addition, the company extended its lease on Terminal C at Bush Intercontinental Airport to 2027.
  
• The company continued to install flat-bed seats in first and business class and now has the new seats on 123 aircraft, more than any other U.S. carrier.
  
• The company, through its carriers, continued to build its route network to provide unmatched flight options for travelers, launching new flights to Stuttgart, Germany, and Port-au-Prince, Haiti, from its New York/Newark Liberty hub, service to Shanghai, China, Hilo, Hawai'i, and Guadalajara, Mexico, from its Los Angeles hub and flights to Hilo and Guadalajara from its hub at San Francisco.
  

About United Continental Holdings, Inc.
United Continental Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:[Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] - [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien]) is the holding company for both United Airlines and Continental Airlines. Together with United Express, Continental Express and Continental Connection, these airlines operate an average of 5,765 flights a day to 377 airports on six continents from their hubs in Chicago, Cleveland, Denver, Guam, Houston, Los Angeles, New York/Newark Liberty, San Francisco, Tokyo and Washington, D.C. United and Continental are members of Star Alliance, which offers 21,000 daily flights to 1,160 airports in 181 countries. United and Continental's more than 80,000 employees reside in every U.S. state and in many countries around the world. For more information about United Continental Holdings, Inc., go to [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien]. For more information about the airlines, see [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] and [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] or follow on [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] and [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien].
Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Certain statements included in this release are forward-looking and thus reflect our current expectations and beliefs with respect to certain current and future events and financial performance. Such forward-looking statements are and will be subject to many risks and uncertainties relating to our operations and business environment that may cause actual results to differ materially from any future results expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements. Words such as "expects," "will," "plans," "anticipates," "indicates," "believes," "forecast," "guidance," "outlook" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Additionally, forward-looking statements include statements which do not relate solely to historical facts, such as statements which identify uncertainties or trends, discuss the possible future effects of current known trends or uncertainties, or which indicate that the future effects of known trends or uncertainties cannot be predicted, guaranteed or assured. All forward-looking statements in this release are based upon information available to us on the date of this release. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, changed circumstances or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. Our actual results could differ materially from these forward-looking statements due to numerous factors including, without limitation, the following: our ability to comply with the terms of our various financing arrangements; the costs and availability of financing; our ability to maintain adequate liquidity; our ability to execute our operational plans; our ability to control our costs, including realizing benefits from our resource optimization efforts, cost reduction initiatives and fleet replacement programs; our ability to utilize our net operating losses; our ability to attract and retain customers; demand for transportation in the markets in which we operate; an outbreak of a disease that affects travel demand or travel behavior; demand for travel and the impact that global economic conditions have on customer travel patterns; excessive taxation and the inability to offset future taxable income; general economic conditions (including interest rates, foreign currency exchange rates, investment or credit market conditions, crude oil prices, costs of aviation fuel and energy refining capacity in relevant markets); our ability to cost-effectively hedge against increases in the price of aviation fuel; any potential realized or unrealized gains or losses related to fuel or currency hedging programs; the effects of any hostilities, act of war or terrorist attack; the ability of other air carriers with whom we have alliances or partnerships to provide the services contemplated by the respective arrangements with such carriers; the costs and availability of aviation and other insurance; the costs associated with security measures and practices; industry consolidation or changes in airline alliances; competitive pressures on pricing and on demand; our capacity decisions and the capacity decisions of our competitors; U.S. or foreign governmental legislation, regulation and other actions (including open skies agreements); labor costs; our ability to maintain satisfactory labor relations and the results of the collective bargaining agreement process with our union groups; any disruptions to operations due to any potential actions by our labor groups; weather conditions; the possibility that expected merger synergies will not be realized or will not be realized within the expected time period; and other risks and uncertainties set forth under Item 1A., Risk Factors of our Annual Report on Form 10-K, as well as other risks and uncertainties set forth from time to time in the reports we file with the SEC. Consequently, forward-looking statements should not be regarded as representations or warranties by us that such matters will be realized.

United seen as next battleground for Boeing, Airbus

[Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] is shaping up as the next major U.S. battleground for [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] and Airbus to sell narrowbody airplanes, as the world's biggest airline mulls an order sources say could reach 200 planes.

Bagging the entire order from United Airlines, a unit of the newly merged United Continental Holdings Inc., would be a major coup. An order for 200 single-aisle planes is potentially worth about $18 billion at Boeing and Airbus list prices.
Discussions are still at the early stages. But industry sources familiar with preliminary soundings expect United to place an order to refresh its fleet late this year or early next.

"They (United Continental) are looking at it," said one of the sources. "Airbus and Boeing are getting ready. (United) sees the timing as good, just like the other guys."

Another top industry source said United's order could be "something like 100 or 200 (planes), but less than American," referring to a recent order for 460 single-aisle planes worth up to $40 billion from [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien]'s [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien].

Some U.S. airlines, newly stabilized after a years-long industry downturn, are updating their narrowbody fleets, mostly comprising Boeing 737s and Airbus A320s, with newer planes to help blunt the impact of soaring fuel costs.

"United has the newest and most fuel-efficient fleet among the network carriers, and we have regular, ongoing communications with manufacturers," said United Continental spokesman Mike Trevino. He declined to comment on prospects for an order in the near future.

Boeing and Airbus also declined to comment on talks with United Continental.

So far this year, the world's dominant plane-makers have slugged it out for sales to American Airlines and [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien], which ordered 100 Boeing Next-Generation 737-900ER airplanes valued at $8.5 billion last month.

U.S.-based Boeing and the [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] Airbus offer versions of their best-selling narrowbodies with new fuel-efficient engines. The newer models, which are still in development, are dubbed the 737 MAX and the A320neo and will not be ready for commercial service for several years.

Boeing decided in July to outfit its 737s with newer, more fuel-efficient engines in order to capture part of the huge order from American Airlines, which formerly was an all-Boeing customer. The airline ordered 260 Airbus planes and 200 Boeing planes.

The move was seen as a victory for Airbus, a unit of Europe's EADS, as it attempts to poach more of Boeing's narrowbody customers in its home country.

Boeing had previously said it was leaning toward a full redesign of its best-selling 737. Redesigning the plane would have taken longer but could have provided greater fuel savings than the re-engined version.

United Continental Chief Executive Jeff Smisek told Reuters in May he was willing to wait for a redesigned narrowbody.

It was unknown if United is likely to order re-engined planes. The carrier could award the deal entirely to one plane maker or split the order between the two.

Founded four decades ago, France-based Airbus pulled off one of its earliest and most unexpected market coups by selling 100 jets to United Airlines in 1992. Now the airline is set to be the focus of the $80 billion-a-year aircraft industry once again.

United Continental, which has a narrowbody fleet of about 550 Boeing and Airbus planes, formed last year from a $3.17 billion merger of United Airlines and [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien]. The carriers still operate separately while they complete their integration.

The company has 125 firm commitments to purchase new aircraft: 50 Boeing 737s, 50 Boeing 787s and 25 Airbus A350s. United Continental also has purchase options for 42 Airbus A319 and A320 aircraft.

United and Boeing have a shared history, both being founded by William Boeing. United Air Lines and Boeing Airplane Co. were both subsidiaries of United Aircraft and Transport Co. before it was broken up in 1934. Airbus overtook Boeing as the world's largest jetliner-maker in 2003.

United pilots sue to stop merger integration

Pilots at United Airlines asked a federal judge on Monday to halt integration with Continental Airlines, saying the company is moving too fast in its bid to merge operations fully.

The United chapter of the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), which filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York, sought a stay of Friday's deadline to complete the next phase of training and begin new procedures.

The union said the proposed level and timeline of training necessary for United Continental Holdings Inc ([Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien]) to earn single operating authority from Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is inadequate.

FAA clearance is the final step in the merger to create the world's biggest airline. The [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] closed last year.

Pilots contend interrupting the deadline for new procedures would allow the union and management to either negotiate a resolution or arbitrate the dispute.

A court hearing in Brooklyn is scheduled for Wednesday.

The union said most of the training changes involve United pilots, who are adopting many of Continental's cockpit procedures.

United said the suit was without merit and was a shameful attempt to influence negotiations on a joint contract between United and Continental pilots.

"Our training procedures, which are fully approved and closely monitored by the FAA, meet or exceed safety standards and we are a safe airline," United spokeswoman Julie King said in a statement.

United's union chairman, Wendy Morse, told Reuters safety issues and the union contract are separate.

"There is a solid wall between them," Morse said.

Separately, Continental's ALPA unit announced a union rally on Wall Street on Tuesday, saying the company needed to "get serious" about negotiating a joint contract.

United officials have said they want a fair contract and have been meeting with pilots from both unions for more than a year.

Management wanted a deal in place by the end of 2011, but said over the summer the target would be missed. No new date has been set.

Without a joint contract that merges seniority and duties, the carrier cannot achieve the full measure of cost and revenue benefits forecast as part of the merger.