Photo: UNITED United Airlines has released its first-quarter 2026 results with a pre-tax profit of $900 million and a profitability rate of 6.0%, an increase over the same period last year.
The company's revenue totaled $14.6 billion, a sharp increase of 10.6%, with revenue per seat increasing by 6.9%. In addition, there was a sharp increase in fuel expenses of $340 million compared to the corresponding quarter.
The company reports strong demand for premium products, with a 14% increase. Business travel also saw a growth of 14%.
Amid volatile oil prices, United has updated its capacity plans for 2026 and expects to see a small temporary reduction in operations. In the third and fourth quarters, the company expects capacity to be stable or even increase by up to 2%.
At the same time, the company continues to invest in its fleet of aircraft, with plans to receive over 250 new aircraft by 2028, alongside product developments such as Relax Row seats, expanded Wi-Fi services, and digital tools to improve the passenger experience.
On the operational side, the company recorded the highest takeoff punctuality rate among the eight largest airlines in the US, along with a record number of passengers in the first quarter of the year.
Scott Kirby, United CEO: "These are results our employees can be proud of, and they show the resilience of our long-term strategy, even in the face of escalating fuel expense. Moments of uncertainty for the airline industry may also create opportunity for United."