United Continental Holdings, Inc. : United Continental Holdings Reports December 2011 Operational Performance for United and Continental

CHICAGO, Jan. 9, 2012/PRNewswire/ -- United Continental Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: UAL) today reported December 2011operational results for its United AirlinesContinental Airlines units. 

Continental's combined consolidated traffic (revenue passenger miles) in December 2011decreased 0.7 percent versus December 2010results on a combined consolidated capacity (available seat miles) decrease of 0.1 percent. The carriers' combined consolidated load factor in December 2011decreased 0.5 points compared to the same period in 2010.

Continental's December 2011combined consolidatedmainline passenger revenue per available seat mile (PRASM) increased an estimated 4.0 to 5.0 percent and 3.5 to 4.5 percent, respectively, as compared to December 2010. 

About United Continental Holdings, Inc.

United Continental Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: UAL) is the holding company for both United AirlinesContinental Airlines. Together with United Express, Continental ExpressContinental Connection, these airlines operate an average of 5,717 flights a day to 376 airports on six continents from their hubs in Chicago, Cleveland, Denver, Guam, Houston, Los Angeles, New York/Newark Liberty, San Francisco, TokyoWashington, D.C.Continental are members of Star Alliance, which offers more than 21,200 daily flights to 1,185 airports in 185 countries. Continental's more than 80,000 employees reside in every U.S. statein many countries around the world. For more information about United Continental Holdings, Inc. or follow on .

Preliminary Operational Results
		December					Full Year
		2011	2010	Change			2011	2010	Change
REVENUE PASSENGER MILES (000)
	Domestic	7,752,603	7,858,291	(1.3)	%		95,069,896	97,507,989	(2.5)	%
	International	6,982,065	7,069,016	(1.2)	%		86,693,558	87,071,855	(0.4)	%
	Atlantic	2,890,038	2,922,123	(1.1)	%		39,280,149	39,677,715	(1.0)	%
	Pacific	2,616,274	2,735,219	(4.3)	%		31,350,439	31,875,964	(1.6)	%
	Latin	1,475,753	1,411,674	4.5	%		16,062,970	15,518,176	3.5	%
	Mainline	14,734,668	14,927,307	(1.3)	%		181,763,454	184,579,844	(1.5)	%
	Regional	2,148,219	2,069,155	3.8	%		25,768,002	25,960,762	(0.7)	%
	Consolidated	16,882,887	16,996,462	(0.7)	%		207,531,456	210,540,606	(1.4)	%
AVAILABLE SEAT MILES (000)
	Domestic	9,311,662	9,496,043	(1.9)	%		111,734,624	114,894,643	(2.8)	%
	International	8,707,176	8,591,234	1.3	%		107,702,131	105,165,407	2.4	%
	Atlantic	3,698,344	3,587,004	3.1	%		49,189,706	48,045,291	2.4	%
	Pacific	3,160,691	3,222,436	(1.9)	%		38,207,995	37,829,729	1.0	%
	Latin	1,848,141	1,781,794	3.7	%		20,304,430	19,290,387	5.3	%
	Mainline	18,018,838	18,087,277	(0.4)	%		219,436,755	220,060,050	(0.3)	%
	Regional	2,777,392	2,721,244	2.1	%		33,091,282	33,034,277	0.2	%
	Consolidated	20,796,230	20,808,521	(0.1)	%		252,528,037	253,094,327	(0.2)	%
PASSENGER LOAD FACTOR
	Domestic	83.3%	82.8%	0.5	pts		85.1%	84.9%	0.2	pt
	International	80.2%	82.3%	(2.1)	pts		80.5%	82.8%	(2.3)	pts
	Atlantic	78.1%	81.5%	(3.4)	pts		79.9%	82.6%	(2.7)	pts
	Pacific	82.8%	84.9%	(2.1)	pts		82.1%	84.3%	(2.2)	pts
	Latin	79.9%	79.2%	0.7	pts		79.1%	80.4%	(1.3)	pts
	Mainline	81.8%	82.5%	(0.7)	pts		82.8%	83.9%	(1.1)	pts
	Regional	77.3%	76.0%	1.3	pts		77.9%	78.6%	(0.7)	pts
	Consolidated	81.2%	81.7%	(0.5)	pts		82.2%	83.2%	(1.0)	pts
ONBOARD PASSENGERS (000)
	Mainline	7,780	8,055	(3.4)	%		96,360	99,456	(3.1)	%
	Regional	3,778	3,661	3.2	%		45,439	46,098	(1.4)	%
	Consolidated	11,558	11,716	(1.3)	%		141,799	145,554	(2.6)	%
CARGO REVENUE TON MILES (000)
	Total	223,892	244,714	(8.5)	%		2,645,600	3,003,871	(11.9)	%

Preliminary Financial Results
November 2011 year-over-year consolidated PRASM change							11.1	%
November 2011 year-over-year mainline PRASM change							9.8	%
December 2011 estimated year-over-year consolidated PRASM change							4.0 - 5.0	%
December 2011 estimated year-over-year mainline PRASM change							3.5 - 4.5	%
December 2011 estimated consolidated average price per gallon of fuel, including fuel taxes							3.23	Dollars
Fourth Quarter 2011 estimated consolidated average price per gallon of fuel, including fuel taxes							3.21	Dollars
Preliminary December Operational Results for UnitedContinental
United Airlines					2011	2010	Change
On-Time Performance (1)					84.0%	83.1%	0.9	pts
Completion Factor (2)					99.4%	97.9 %	1.5	pts
Continental Airlines					2011	2010	Change
On-Time Performance (1)					79.8%	72.1%	7.7	pts
Completion Factor (2)					99.5%	96.5%	3.0	pts

(1)Based on domestic mainline scheduled flights arriving within 14 minutes of scheduled arrival time, according to data published in the DOT Air Travel Consumer Report.

(2)Mainline Completion Percentage

Safe Harbor Statement

Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Certain statements included in this release are forward-lookingthus reflect our current expectationsbeliefs with respect to certain currentfuture eventsfinancial performance. Such forward-looking statements arewill be subject to many risksuncertainties relating to our operationsbusiness 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"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 costsavailability 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 initiativesfleet replacement programs; our ability to utilize our net operating losses; our ability to attractretain 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 travelthe impact that global economic conditions have on customer travel patterns; excessive taxationthe 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 fuelenergy 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 costsavailability of aviationother insurance; the costs associated with security measurespractices; industry consolidation or changes in airline alliances; competitive pressures on pricingon demand; our capacity decisionsthe capacity decisions of our competitors; U.S. or foreign governmental legislation, regulationother actions (including open skies agreementsenvironmental regulations); labor costs; our ability to maintain satisfactory labor relationsthe 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;other risksuncertainties set forth under Item 1A., Risk Factors of our Annual Report on Form 10-K, as well as other risksuncertainties 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.

SOURCE United Continental Holdings, Inc.

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