United Airlines Achieves Best First-Quarter On-Time Performance in a Decade, Beats Domestic March Goal

Company also achieves customer satisfaction goal, to pay $100 in bonuses to eligible employees

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Apr 09, 2013, 11:55 ET

CHICAGO, April 9, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- United Airlines achieved its best first-quarter on-time performance among domestic flights since 2003 with 81.4 percent arriving on time, and, despite several severe weather events, ended the month of March with 80.7 percent arriving on time.

March was the third consecutive month that more than 80 percent of United's domestic flights arrived on time.

"We are very focused on providing solid operational performance and great customer service," said Jeff Smisek, United's chairman, president and chief executive officer.

A key driver of on-time arrivals is on-time departures, particularly at the start of the day. United's highest-performing hub for on-time departures of the airline's first flights of the day in March was San Francisco International Airport, with 86.6 percent of flights before 9 a.m. departing exactly at departure time or early, followed by Cleveland Hopkins International at 86 percent.

The Department of Transportation measures a flight on time if it arrives within 14 minutes of its scheduled arrival time.

Employee Bonuses
United will reward eligible employees a $50 bonus for the company's domestic on-time performance result for March, and another $50 for reaching the company's first-quarter customer-satisfaction target, as measured through online surveys that thousands of members of United's MileagePlus loyalty program complete each day.

In the months of January and February, United also beat its domestic and international on-time performance targets, earning eligible employees $100 bonuses each month.

For the first quarter, each of those employees earned a total of $300 in bonuses.

United also has launched the new nomination period for the company's Outperform Recognition Program. Through June 30, eligible MileagePlus members may nominate employees who provide excellent customer service. United will then select 101 eligible nominees to receive a total of $125,000 in cash awards.

About United
United Airlines and United Express operate an average of 5,472 flights a day to 381 airports across six continents. In 2012, United and United Express carried more passenger traffic than any other airline in the world and operated nearly two million flights carrying 140 million customers. United is investing in upgrading its onboard products and now offers more flat-bed seats in its premium cabins and more extra-legroom economy-class seating than any airline in North America. In 2013, United became the first U.S.-based international carrier to offer satellite-based Wi-Fi on long-haul overseas routes. The airline also features DIRECTV® on nearly 200 aircraft, offering customers more live television access than any other airline in the world. United operates nearly 700 mainline aircraft and has made large-scale investments in its fleet. In 2013, United will continue to modernize its fleet by taking delivery of more than two dozen new Boeing aircraft. The company expanded its industry-leading global route network in 2012, launching nine new international and 18 new domestic routes. Business Traveler magazine awarded United Best Airline for North American Travel for 2012, and readers of Global Traveler magazine have voted United's MileagePlus program the best frequent flyer program for nine consecutive years. United is a founding member of Star Alliance, which provides service to 194 countries via 27 member airlines. More than 85,000 United employees reside in every U.S. state and in countries around the world. For more information, visit united.com or follow United on Twitter and Facebook. The common stock of United's parent, United Continental Holdings, Inc., is traded on the NYSE under the symbol UAL.

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SOURCE United Airlines