United Airlines Reports February 2010 Operational Performance
United Airlines today reported its preliminary consolidated traffic results for February 2010. Total consolidated revenue passenger miles (RPMs) increased in February by 2.1% on a decrease of 5.3% in available seat miles (ASMs) compared with the same period in 2009. This resulted in a reported February consolidated passenger load factor of 78.7%, an increase of 5.7 points compared to 2009.
For February 2010, consolidated passenger revenue per available seat mile (PRASM) is estimated to have increased 17.0% to 19.0% year over year. Consolidated PRASM is estimated to have increased 3.8% to 5.8% for February 2010 compared to February 2008, 2.9 percentage points of which was due to growth in ancillary revenues.
The company estimates that weather related cancellations in February from the severe storms that affected the East coast reduced February revenue by approximately $40 million. In addition, the company estimates a benefit to PRASM of approximately 1.5 points from storm-related reductions in ASMs and the impact of the Lufthansa strike on trans-Atlantic loads.
Storm-related cancellations accounted for 3.5 percentage points of the 5.3% year-over-year decline in consolidated ASMs for the month of February, and are expected to reduce consolidated ASMs for the first quarter 2010 by approximately 1.0 percentage point.
United reported a U.S. Department of Transportation on-time arrival rate of 79.5% in February.
Average February 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 $2.25 per gallon. Including non-cash, mark-to-market fuel hedge gains and losses, the estimated fuel price is $1.64 per gallon for the month.
