Business · Companies · 3 hrs ago
United Airlines earns $1.03 billion as fuel costs weigh on profits
United Airlines reported $1.03 billion in profit for the third quarter of 2026.
The US airline’s adjusted earnings were $2.54 per share, just below analysts’ $2.57 estimate.
Revenue rose 17.4% to $17.88 billion compared with the same quarter a year earlier.
Higher fuel costs weighed on profits: the airline paid an average of $3.90 per gallon, and said this also pushed fares higher.
Demand remained strong, with passenger numbers more than 2% above the year-earlier level and passenger revenue per seat rising in both domestic and international markets.
United shares fell 1.8% after hours following the results.
United Airlines reported a profit of $1.03 billion for the third quarter of 2026.
Adjusted earnings were $2.54 per share, slightly below analysts’ $2.57 estimate.
Operating revenue rose 17.4% from a year earlier to $17.88 billion.
The airline said it paid an average of $3.90 per gallon for fuel, which weighed on profits and pushed airfares higher.
Passenger demand remained strong, with passenger numbers more than 2% higher.
- Who
- United Airlines.
- What
- It reported a third-quarter profit of $1.03 billion, while fuel costs weighed on profits.
- When
- The third quarter of 2026; the results were released Tuesday, October 20.
- Where
- Not stated.
- Why
- Fuel costs weighed on profits despite strong demand.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
United Airlines recorded a profit of $1.03 billion and paid an average of $3.90 per gallon for fuel.
United Airlines released its third-quarter results.
- Third-quarter profit
- $1.03 billion
- Adjusted earnings per share
- $2.54
- Operating revenue
- $17.88 billion, up 17.4% year over year
- Average fuel price
- $3.90 per gallon
- Passenger numbers
- More than 2% higher
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What people are saying
Passengers continue to book trips