Strong Financial Performance: United Airlines reported a record fourth quarter earnings per share (EPS) of $3.26, contributing to a full-year EPS of $10.61. This performance was above initial guidance, highlighting robust revenue and operational efficiency, with a fourth quarter pretax margin of 9.7%, up 3.5 points year-over-year.
Guidance and Growth Expectations: For Q1 2025, United expects EPS between $0.75 and $1.25, indicating about a $400 million improvement from the previous year. For full-year 2025, EPS guidance is set between $11.50 and $13.50, representing an 18% increase compared to 2024, signaling strong continued growth and operational improvements.
Capacity Growth and Network Optimization: Domestic capacity increased by 7.8% in Q4 2024 with improved revenue per available seat mile (RASM), particularly in the domestic sector where RASM is expected to turn solidly positive in Q1 2025. The airline is focusing on enhancing connectivity and making strategic adjustments to capacity deployment across its hubs.