CHICAGO, 26 October 2026: United Airlines (UAL) has reported pre-tax earnings of USD1.3 billion, with a pre-tax margin of 7.3%.
Adjusted pre-tax earnings were USD1.1 billion, with an adjusted pre-tax margin of 6.2%. Fuel expense rose USD1.8 billion versus third-quarter 2025 as jet fuel prices remained volatile.
United continued to see broad-based strength across all revenue streams: compared to the third quarter of 2025, Premium revenue was up 17%, basic economy revenue was up 16%, loyalty revenue was up 17%, and cargo revenue was up 23%. Contracted business revenue rose 26% during the quarter versus the third quarter of 2025, showing strong, resilient close-in demand across all industries. Economy cabin revenue grew for the third consecutive quarter, with unit revenue up 17% year-over-year.
United now offers Starlink on more than 640 aircraft, equipping approximately three more aircraft per day. United now offers more daily Starlink flights than the entire US industry, further strengthening its competitive advantage. In September, more than 5.4 million United customers experienced Starlink. United expects to make it available fleet-wide by the end of 2027.
Ongoing customer investments include the new concourse in Terminal B at Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport. The United ClubSM in the new, three-level concourse is the largest airline club in the Americas, with seating for 800 people and an outdoor terrace. During the quarter, United also unveiled modernisation plans for Washington Dulles International Airport together with the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority and the US Department of Transportation, with new and expanded airport facilities expected to support more flights.
Network expansion
UA announced the largest-ever international network expansion with service to 10 new destinations planned to start in summer 2027, including Catania, Italy; Ibiza, Spain; Ljubljana, Slovenia; Luxembourg; Marseille, France; Okinawa, Japan; Olbia, Italy; Terceira, Portugal; Toulouse, France; and Valencia, Spain. All new routes are subject to government approval.
The airline also announced additional summer 2027 service on four international routes: Los Angeles-Osaka, Washington Dulles-Milan, Denver-Paris, and San Francisco-Tel Aviv.
Resumed service from Newark to Tel Aviv in early September.
Launched nonstop service from Newark to Seoul and four new domestic routes from Newark: Bentonville, Arkansas; Charlottesville, Virginia; Knoxville, Tennessee; and Omaha, Nebraska.
Expanded 787-9 Elevated service from San Francisco to Zurich and Seoul, joining the Singapore and London routes introduced in the second quarter of 2026. These premium-configured aircraft feature 99 premium seats, including eight United Polaris Studio suites and 56 United Polaris seats.
(Source: United)
