United Airlines Reports Second-Quarter 2018 Performance

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Jul 17, 2018, 16:15 ET

CHICAGO, July 17, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- United Airlines (UAL) today announced its second-quarter 2018 financial results.

UAL reported second-quarter net income of $684 million, diluted earnings per share of $2.48, pre-tax earnings of $857 million and pre-tax margin of 8.0 percent.
Excluding special charges and mark-to-market adjustments, UAL reported second-quarter net income of $889 million, diluted earnings per share of $3.23, pre-tax earnings of $1.1 billion and pre-tax margin of 10.4 percent.
Ranked first among largest competitors in on-time departures in the quarter.
UAL repurchased $407 million of its common shares in the second quarter.
Consolidated passenger revenue per available seat mile (PRASM) increased 3.0 percent year-over-year.
Consolidated total revenue per available seat mile (TRASM) increased 2.8 percent year-over-year.
Consolidated unit cost per available seat mile (CASM) increased 7.1 percent year-over-year.
Consolidated CASM, excluding special charges, third-party business expenses, fuel and profit sharing, decreased 0.4 percent year-over-year.
UAL now expects full-year 2018 diluted earnings per share, excluding special charges and mark-to-market adjustments, to be $7.25 to $8.75¹.

"We delivered great financial results and strong operational performance in the second quarter despite the significant headwind of higher fuel prices," said Oscar Munoz, chief executive officer of United Airlines. "These results are the strongest evidence yet that our strategic growth plan is working, and we are well positioned to carry our momentum into the second half of the year."

For more information on UAL's third-quarter 2018 guidance, please visit ir.united.com for the company's investor update.

Second-Quarter Highlights

Operations and Employees

Completed the best second-quarter on-time departure performance in United's history.
Received "Best-of-the-Best" Award from the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce and National Business Inclusion Consortium for commitment to diversity and inclusion across all communities.
Announced a total of $8 million in grants to benefit organizations in each of its domestic hub communities.
Became the first carrier to achieve certification through the new Audubon International Green Hospitality Program for the airline's United Club location in Terminal 7 of Los Angeles International Airport.

Customer Experience

Expanded personal device entertainment option to all aircraft with DIRECTV live streaming for purchase, providing at least one free entertainment option on all Wi-Fi equipped aircraft (which is any aircraft with more than 70 seats).
Opened three new United Polaris lounges located in San Francisco International Airport, Newark Liberty International Airport and Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport.
Announced a new relationship with The Private Suite, offering the airline's customers access to a newly built, private terminal at Los Angeles International Airport.
Introduced the new United Explorer Card which offers additional benefits, travel credits and discounts.

Network and Fleet

Launched service from Newark/New York to two new international destinations: Reykjavik, Iceland, and Porto, Portugal.
Announced the return of seasonal service to 25 destinations, including, among others: Athens, Greece; Glasgow, Scotland; Madrid and Barcelona, Spain; Rome and Venice, Italy; and Hamburg, Germany.
Announced schedule expansion at East Coast hubs in Newark/New York and Washington-Dulles to offer more nonstop flights to destinations popular with New York-area customers while reallocating largely connecting passenger flights to Washington-Dulles.
Took delivery of one Boeing 777-300ER aircraft and six Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft.
Became North American launch customer of the Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft, which took its first flight on June 7 from Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport to Orlando International Airport in Florida.

Earnings Call

UAL will hold a conference call to discuss second-quarter 2018 financial results and its financial and operational outlook for the third quarter and full year of 2018 on Wednesday, July 18, at 9:30 a.m. Central Time /10:30 a.m. Eastern Time. A live, listen-only webcast of the conference call will be available at ir.united.com. The webcast will be available for replay within 24 hours of the conference call and then archived on the website for three months.

About United

United Airlines and United Express operate approximately 4,600 flights a day to 357 airports across five continents. In 2017, United and United Express operated more than 1.6 million flights carrying more than 148 million customers. United is proud to have the world's most comprehensive route network, including U.S. mainland hubs in Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Newark/New York, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. United operates 757 mainline aircraft and the airline's United Express carriers operate 551 regional aircraft. The airline is a founding member of Star Alliance, which provides service to 193 countries via 28 member airlines. For more information, visit united.com, follow @United on Twitter or connect on Facebook. The common stock of United's parent, United Continental Holdings, Inc., is traded on the NYSE under the symbol "UAL".

¹ Excludes special charges, the nature of which are not determinable at this time, and mark-to-market impact of equity investments. Accordingly, UAL is not providing earnings guidance on a GAAP basis.

Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995:
Certain statements included in this release are forward-looking and thus reflect our current expectations and beliefs with respect to certain current and future events and anticipated financial and operating performance. Such forward-looking statements are and will be subject to many risks and uncertainties relating to our operations and business 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," "estimates," "forecast," "guidance," "outlook," "goals" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Additionally, forward-looking statements include statements that 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: general economic conditions (including interest rates, foreign currency exchange rates, investment or credit market conditions, crude oil prices, costs of aircraft fuel and energy refining capacity in relevant markets); economic and political instability and other risks of doing business globally, including political developments that may impact our operations in certain countries; demand for travel and the impact that global economic and political conditions have on customer travel patterns; competitive pressures on pricing and on demand; demand for transportation in the markets in which we operate; our capacity decisions and the capacity decisions of our competitors; the effects of any hostilities, act of war or terrorist attack; the effects of any technology failures or cybersecurity breaches; the impact of regulatory, investigative and legal proceedings and legal compliance risks; disruptions to our regional network; 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; costs associated with any modification or termination of our aircraft orders; potential reputational or other impact from adverse events in our operations, the operations of our regional carriers or the operations of our code share partners; our ability to attract and retain customers; our ability to execute our operational plans and revenue-generating initiatives, including optimizing our revenue; our ability to control our costs, including realizing benefits from our resource optimization efforts, cost reduction initiatives and fleet replacement programs; the impact of any management changes; our ability to cost-effectively hedge against increases in the price of aircraft fuel if we decide to do so; any potential realized or unrealized gains or losses related to any fuel or currency hedging programs; labor costs; our ability to maintain satisfactory labor relations and the results of any collective bargaining agreement process with our union groups; any disruptions to operations due to any potential actions by our labor groups; an outbreak of a disease that affects travel demand or travel behavior; U.S. or foreign governmental legislation, regulation and other actions (including Open Skies agreements and environmental regulations); industry consolidation or changes in airline alliances; our ability to comply with the terms of our various financing arrangements; the costs and availability of financing; our ability to maintain adequate liquidity; the costs and availability of aviation and other insurance; weather conditions; our ability to utilize our net operating losses to offset future taxable income; the impact of changes in tax laws; the success of our investments in airlines in other parts of the world; and other risks and uncertainties set forth under Part I, Item 1A., "Risk Factors," of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017, as well as other risks and uncertainties set forth from time to time in the reports we file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

-tables attached-

On January 1, 2018, United Continental Holdings, Inc. ("UAL") adopted Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-09 (Topic 606), Revenue from Contracts with Customers, and Accounting Standards Update No. 2017-07, Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost. As such, certain previously reported 2017 figures are adjusted in this report on a basis consistent with the new standards. See the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by UAL with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 1, 2018 for additional information.

UNITED CONTINENTAL HOLDINGS, INC.
STATEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATED OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED) (A)

	Three Months Ended June 30,						% Increase/		Six Months Ended June 30,						% Increase/
(In millions, except per share data)	2018			2017			(Decrease)		2018			2017			(Decrease)
Operating revenue:
Passenger	$	9,880		$	9,151		8.0		$	18,030		$	16,804		7.3
Cargo	314			273			15.0		607			511			18.8
Other operating revenue	583			584			(0.2)		1,172			1,119			4.7
Total operating revenue	10,777			10,008			7.7		19,809			18,434			7.5

Operating expense:
Salaries and related costs	2,878			2,842			1.3		5,604			5,478			2.3
Aircraft fuel	2,390			1,669			43.2		4,355			3,229			34.9
Regional capacity purchase	681			549			24.0		1,300			1,085			19.8
Landing fees and other rent	603			541			11.5		1,161			1,085			7.0
Depreciation and amortization	557			536			3.9		1,098			1,054			4.2
Aircraft maintenance materials and outside repairs	438			472			(7.2)		878			926			(5.2)
Distribution expenses	393			385			2.1		735			704			4.4
Aircraft rent	119			152			(21.7)		246			331			(25.7)
Special charges (C)	129			44			NM		169			95			NM
Other operating expenses	1,428			1,381			3.4		2,826			2,690			5.1
Total operating expense	9,616			8,571			12.2		18,372			16,677			10.2

Operating income	1,161			1,437			(19.2)		1,437			1,757			(18.2)

Operating margin	10.8		%	14.4		%	(3.6)	pts.	7.3		%	9.5		%	(2.2)	pts.
Operating margin, excluding special charges (Non-GAAP)	12.0		%	14.8		%	(2.8)	pts.	8.1		%	10.0		%	(1.9)	pts.

Nonoperating income (expense):
Interest expense	(177)			(167)			6.0		(353)			(329)			7.3
Interest capitalized	14			21			(33.3)		33			44			(25.0)
Interest income	25			13			92.3		42			24			75.0
Miscellaneous, net (C)	(166)			(27)			NM		(118)			(69)			71.0
Total nonoperating expense	(304)			(160)			90.0		(396)			(330)			20.0

Income before income taxes	857			1,277			(32.9)		1,041			1,427			(27.0)

Pre-tax margin	8.0		%	12.8		%	(4.8)	pts.	5.3		%	7.7		%	(2.4)	pts.
Pre-tax margin, excluding special charges and mark-to-market ("MTM") losses on equity investments (Non-GAAP)	10.4		%	13.2		%	(2.8)	pts.	6.6		%	8.3		%	(1.7)	pts.

Income tax expense (D)	173			456			(62.1)		210			507			(58.6)
Net income	$	684		$	821		(16.7)		$	831		$	920		(9.7)

Earnings per share, diluted	$	2.48		$	2.67		(7.1)		$	2.96		$	2.96		—
Weighted average shares, diluted	275.6			307.7			(10.4)		280.2			311.1			(9.9)

NM Not meaningful

UNITED CONTINENTAL HOLDINGS, INC.
STATISTICS

	Three Months Ended June 30,						% Increase/		Six Months Ended June 30,						% Increase/
	2018			2017			(Decrease)		2018			2017			(Decrease)
Mainline:
Passengers (thousands)	29,589			28,084			5.4		54,191			51,909			4.4
Revenue passenger miles (millions)	53,485			50,554			5.8		97,595			92,737			5.2
Available seat miles (millions)	63,061			60,473			4.3		117,859			113,527			3.8
Cargo ton miles (millions)	855			828			3.3		1,672			1,576			6.1
Passenger revenue per available seat mile (cents)	12.76			12.39			3.0		12.44			12.08			3.0
Average yield per revenue passenger mile (cents)	15.04			14.82			1.5		15.02			14.79			1.6
Aircraft in fleet at end of period	757			748			1.2		757			748			1.2
Average stage length (miles)	1,823			1,821			0.1		1,818			1,812			0.3
Average daily utilization of each aircraft (hours: minutes)	11:07			10:46			3.3		10:32			10:16			2.6
Average aircraft fuel price per gallon	$	2.24		$	1.62		38.3		$	2.17		$	1.66		30.7
Fuel gallons consumed (millions)	885			867			2.1		1,656			1,628			1.7

Regional:
Passengers (thousands)	11,469			10,163			12.9		21,362			19,443			9.9
Revenue passenger miles (millions)	6,460			5,802			11.3		12,199			11,230			8.6
Available seat miles (millions)	7,641			6,994			9.3		14,820			13,748			7.8
Passenger revenue per available seat mile (cents)	24.02			23.72			1.3		22.73			22.44			1.3
Average yield per revenue passenger mile (cents)	28.41			28.59			(0.6)		27.62			27.47			0.5
Aircraft in fleet at end of period	551			475			16.0		551			475			16.0
Average stage length (miles)	552			558			(1.1)		558			565			(1.2)
Average aircraft fuel price per gallon	$	2.38		$	1.71		39.2		$	2.29		$	1.75		30.9
Fuel gallons consumed (millions)	173			156			10.9		334			305			9.5

Consolidated (Mainline and Regional):
Passengers (thousands)	41,058			38,247			7.3		75,553			71,352			5.9
Revenue passenger miles (millions)	59,945			56,356			6.4		109,794			103,967			5.6
Available seat miles (millions)	70,702			67,467			4.8		132,679			127,275			4.2
Passenger load factor:
Consolidated	84.8		%	83.5		%	1.3	pts.	82.8		%	81.7		%	1.1	pts.
Domestic	87.1		%	86.8		%	0.3	pts.	85.1		%	85.2		%	(0.1)	pts.
International	81.7		%	79.5		%	2.2	pts.	79.7		%	77.5		%	2.2	pts.
Passenger revenue per available seat mile (cents)	13.97			13.56			3.0		13.59			13.20			3.0
Total revenue per available seat mile (cents)	15.24			14.83			2.8		14.93			14.48			3.1
Average yield per revenue passenger mile (cents)	16.48			16.24			1.5		16.42			16.16			1.6
Aircraft in fleet at end of period	1,308			1,223			7.0		1,308			1,223			7.0
Average stage length (miles)	1,460			1,475			(1.0)		1,452			1,464			(0.8)
Average full-time equivalent employees (thousands)	86.7			86.0			0.8		86.2			85.6			0.7
Average aircraft fuel price per gallon	$	2.26		$	1.63		38.7		$	2.19		$	1.67		31.1
Fuel gallons consumed (millions)	1,058			1,023			3.4		1,990			1,933			2.9

Note: See Part II, Item 6, Selected Financial Data, of UAL's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017, for definitions of these statistics.

UNITED CONTINENTAL HOLDINGS, INC.
SUMMARY FINANCIAL METRICS (A)

	Three Months Ended June 30,						% Increase/		Six Months Ended June 30,						% Increase/
	2018			2017			(Decrease)		2018			2017			(Decrease)
(In millions, except per share data)
Operating income	$	1,161		$	1,437		(19.2)		$	1,437		$	1,757		(18.2)
Operating margin	10.8		%	14.4		%	(3.6)	pts.	7.3		%	9.5		%	(2.2)	pts.
Operating income, excluding special charges (Non-GAAP)	1,290			1,481			(12.9)		1,606			1,852			(13.3)
Operating margin, excluding special charges (Non-GAAP)	12.0		%	14.8		%	(2.8)	pts.	8.1		%	10.0		%	(1.9)	pts.

EBITDA, excluding special charges and MTM losses on equity investments (Non-GAAP)	$	1,816		$	1,990		(8.7)		$	2,676		$	2,837		(5.7)
EBITDA margin, excluding special charges and MTM losses on equity investments (Non-GAAP)	16.9		%	19.9		%	(3.0)	pts.	13.5		%	15.4		%	(1.9)	pts.

Pre-tax income	$	857		$	1,277		(32.9)		$	1,041		$	1,427		(27.0)
Pre-tax margin	8.0		%	12.8		%	(4.8)	pts.	5.3		%	7.7		%	(2.4)	pts.
Pre-tax income, excluding special charges and MTM losses on equity investments (Non-GAAP)	1,121			1,321			(15.1)		1,300			1,522			(14.6)
Pre-tax margin, excluding special charges and MTM losses on equity investments (Non-GAAP)	10.4		%	13.2		%	(2.8)	pts.	6.6		%	8.3		%	(1.7)	pts.

Net income	$	684		$	821		(16.7)		$	831		$	920		(9.7)
Net income, excluding special charges and MTM losses on equity investments (Non-GAAP)	889			849			4.7		1,032			981			5.2

Diluted earnings per share	$	2.48		$	2.67		(7.1)		$	2.96		$	2.96		—
Diluted earnings per share, excluding special charges and MTM losses on equity investments (Non-GAAP)	3.23			2.76			17.0		3.68			3.15			16.8

Net cash provided by operating activities	$	2,442		$	1,561		56.4		$	4,175		$	2,108		98.1

Capital expenditures	$	755		$	1,089		(30.7)		$	1,734		$	1,780		(2.6)
Adjusted capital expenditures (Non-GAAP)	783			1,247			(37.2)		1,796			2,601			(30.9)

Free cash flow, net of financings (Non-GAAP)	$	1,687		$	472		257.4		$	2,441		$	328		NM
Free cash flow (Non-GAAP)	1,659			314			428.3		2,379			(493)			NM

NM Not meaningful

UNITED CONTINENTAL HOLDINGS, INC.
RETURN ON INVESTED CAPITAL (ROIC) - Non-GAAP

ROIC is a non-GAAP financial measure that we believe provides useful supplemental information for management and investors by measuring the effectiveness of our operations' use of invested capital to generate profits.


(in millions)	Twelve Months Ended June 30, 2018
Net Operating Profit After Tax ("NOPAT")
Pre-tax income	$	2,654
Special charges and MTM losses on equity investments (C):
Impairment of assets	159
MTM losses on equity investments	90
Severance and benefit costs	63
(Gains) losses on sale of assets and other special charges	28
Pre-tax income excluding special charges and MTM losses on equity investments (Non-GAAP)	2,994
add: Interest expense (net of income tax benefit) (a)	689
add: Interest component of capitalized aircraft rent (net of income tax benefit) (a)	260
add: Net interest on pension (net of income tax benefit) (a)	10
less: Income taxes paid	(24)
NOPAT (Non-GAAP)	$	3,929


Average Invested Capital (five-quarter average)
Total assets	$	43,205
add: Capitalized aircraft operating leases (b)	4,227
less: Non-interest bearing liabilities (c)	(16,957)
Average invested capital (Non-GAAP)	$	30,475

Return on invested capital (Non-GAAP)	12.9		%


(a)	Income tax benefit measured based on the effective cash tax rate. The effective cash tax rate is calculated by dividing cash taxes paid by pre-tax income excluding special charges. For the twelve months ended June 30, 2018, the effective cash tax rate was 0.8%.
(b)	The purpose of this adjustment is to capitalize the impact of aircraft operating leases. The company uses a multiple of seven times its annual aircraft rent expense to estimate the potential capitalized value and related liability of its aircraft. This is a simplified method used by many rating agencies and financial analysts to assist with the impact of operating leases on financial measures like return on invested capital.
(c)	Non-interest bearing liabilities include advance ticket sales, frequent flyer deferred revenue, deferred income taxes and other non-interest bearing liabilities.

UNITED CONTINENTAL HOLDINGS, INC.
NON-GAAP FINANCIAL RECONCILIATION

(A) UAL evaluates its financial performance utilizing various accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP) and Non-GAAP financial measures, including operating income (loss), excluding special charges, operating margin excluding special charges, pre-tax income (loss), excluding special charges and MTM gains and losses on equity investments, pre-tax margin, excluding special charges and MTM gains and losses on equity investments, net income (loss), excluding special charges and MTM gains and losses on equity investments, diluted earnings (loss) per share, excluding special charges and MTM gains and losses on equity investments, and CASM, excluding special charges, third-party business expenses, fuel, and profit sharing, among others. UAL believes that adjusting for special charges is useful to investors because special charges are not indicative of UAL's ongoing performance. UAL believes that adjusting for MTM gains and losses on equity investments is useful to investors because those unrealized gains or losses may not ultimately be realized on a cash basis.

CASM is a common metric used in the airline industry to measure an airline's cost structure and efficiency. UAL reports CASM excluding special charges, third-party business expenses, fuel and profit sharing. UAL believes that adjusting for special charges is useful to investors because special charges are not indicative of UAL's ongoing performance. UAL also believes that excluding third-party business expenses, such as maintenance, ground handling and catering services for third parties and fuel sales, provides more meaningful disclosure because these expenses are not directly related to UAL's core business. UAL also believes that excluding fuel costs from certain measures is useful to investors because it provides an additional measure of management's performance excluding the effects of a significant cost item over which management has limited influence. UAL excludes profit sharing because this exclusion allows investors to better understand and analyze our recurring cost performance and provides a more meaningful comparison of our core operating costs to the airline industry.
Reconciliations of reported non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures are included below.

	Three Months Ended June 30,		% Increase/	Six Months Ended June 30,		% Increase/
	2018	2017	(Decrease)	2018	2017	(Decrease)
CASM Mainline Operations (cents)
Cost per available seat mile (CASM)	13.08	12.27	6.6	13.31	12.68	5.0
Special charges (C)	0.20	0.07	NM	0.14	0.09	NM
Third-party business expenses	0.05	0.07	(28.6)	0.05	0.06	(16.7)
Fuel expense	3.14	2.32	35.3	3.05	2.38	28.2
CASM, excluding special charges, third-party business expenses and fuel	9.69	9.81	(1.2)	10.07	10.15	(0.8)
Profit sharing per available seat mile	0.17	0.25	(32.0)	0.10	0.15	(33.3)
CASM, excluding special charges, third-party business expenses, fuel, and profit sharing	9.52	9.56	(0.4)	9.97	10.00	(0.3)

CASM Consolidated Operations (cents)
Cost per available seat mile (CASM)	13.60	12.70	7.1	13.85	13.10	5.7
Special charges (C)	0.18	0.07	NM	0.13	0.07	NM
Third-party business expenses	0.04	0.05	(20.0)	0.05	0.06	(16.7)
Fuel expense	3.38	2.47	36.8	3.28	2.54	29.1
CASM, excluding special charges, third-party business expenses and fuel	10.00	10.11	(1.1)	10.39	10.43	(0.4)
Profit sharing per available seat mile	0.16	0.23	(30.4)	0.09	0.14	(35.7)
CASM, excluding special charges, third-party business expenses, fuel, and profit sharing	9.84	9.88	(0.4)	10.30	10.29	0.1

UNITED CONTINENTAL HOLDINGS, INC.
NON-GAAP FINANCIAL RECONCILIATION (Continued)

	Three Months Ended June 30,				$ Increase/		% Increase/	Six Months Ended June 30,				$ Increase/		% Increase/
(in millions)	2018		2017		(Decrease)		(Decrease)	2018		2017		(Decrease)		(Decrease)
Operating expenses	$	9,616	$	8,571	$	1,045	12.2	$	18,372	$	16,677	$	1,695	10.2
Special charges (C)	129		44		85		NM	169		95		74		NM
Operating expenses, excluding special charges	9,487		8,527		960		11.3	18,203		16,582		1,621		9.8
Third-party business expenses	29		41		(12)		(29.3)	60		81		(21)		(25.9)
Fuel expense	2,390		1,669		721		43.2	4,355		3,229		1,126		34.9
Profit sharing, including taxes	108		154		(46)		(29.9)	125		174		(49)		(28.2)
Operating expenses, excluding fuel, profit sharing, special charges and third-party business expenses	$	6,960	$	6,663	$	297	4.5	$	13,663	$	13,098	$	565	4.3

Operating income	$	1,161	$	1,437	$	(276)	(19.2)	$	1,437	$	1,757	$	(320)	(18.2)
Special charges (C)	129		44		85		NM	169		95		74		NM
Operating income, excluding special charges	$	1,290	$	1,481	$	(191)	(12.9)	$	1,606	$	1,852	$	(246)	(13.3)

Pre-tax income	$	857	$	1,277	$	(420)	(32.9)	$	1,041	$	1,427	$	(386)	(27.0)
Special charges and MTM losses on equity investments before income taxes (C)	264		44		220		NM	259		95		164		NM
Pre-tax income excluding special charges and MTM losses on equity investments	$	1,121	$	1,321	$	(200)	(15.1)	$	1,300	$	1,522	$	(222)	(14.6)

Net income	$	684	$	821	$	(137)	(16.7)	$	831	$	920	$	(89)	(9.7)
Special charges and MTM losses on equity investments, net of tax (C)	205		28		177		NM	201		61		140		NM
Net income, excluding special charges and MTM losses on equity investments	$	889	$	849	$	40	4.7	$	1,032	$	981	$	51	5.2

Diluted earnings per share	$	2.48	$	2.67	$	(0.19)	(7.1)	$	2.96	$	2.96	$	—	—
Special charges and MTM losses on equity investments	0.96		0.14		0.82		NM	0.92		0.31		0.61		NM
Tax effect related to special charges and MTM losses on equity investments	(0.21)		(0.05)		(0.16)		NM	(0.20)		(0.12)		(0.08)		NM
Diluted earnings per share, excluding special charges and MTM losses on equity investments	$	3.23	$	2.76	$	0.47	17.0	$	3.68	$	3.15	$	0.53	16.8

UNITED CONTINENTAL HOLDINGS, INC.
NON-GAAP FINANCIAL RECONCILIATION (Continued)

UAL provides financial metrics, including earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA), excluding special charges and MTM gains and losses on equity investments that we believe provide useful supplemental information for management and investors by measuring profit and profit as a percentage of total operating revenues. UAL believes that adjusting for special charges is useful to investors because special charges are not indicative of UAL's ongoing performance. UAL believes that adjusting for MTM gains and losses on equity investments is useful to investors because those unrealized gains or losses may not ultimately be realized on a cash basis.

	Three Months Ended June 30,				Six Months Ended June 30,
EBITDA, excluding special charges and MTM losses on equity investments (in millions)	2018		2017		2018		2017

Net income	$	684	$	821	$	831	$	920
Adjusted for:
Depreciation and amortization	557		536		1,098		1,054
Interest expense	177		167		353		329
Interest capitalized	(14)		(21)		(33)		(44)
Interest income	(25)		(13)		(42)		(24)
Income tax expense (D)	173		456		210		507
Special charges before income taxes (C)	129		44		169		95
MTM losses on equity investments (C)	135		—		90		—
EBITDA, excluding special charges and MTM losses on equity investments (Non-GAAP)	$	1,816	$	1,990	$	2,676	$	2,837



UAL believes that adjusting capital expenditures for assets acquired through the issuance of debt and capital leases, airport construction financing and excluding fully reimbursable projects is useful to investors in order to appropriately reflect the non-reimbursable funds spent on capital expenditures. UAL also believes that adjusting net cash provided by operating activities for capital expenditures and adjusted capital expenditures is useful to allow investors to evaluate the company's ability to generate cash that is available for debt service or general corporate initiatives.

	Three Months Ended June 30,				Six Months Ended June 30,
Capital Expenditures (in millions)	2018		2017		2018		2017
Capital expenditures	$	755	$	1,089	$	1,734	$	1,780
Property and equipment acquired through the issuance of debt and capital leases	65		196		139		907
Airport construction financing	—		11		12		32
Fully reimbursable projects	(37)		(49)		(89)		(118)
Adjusted capital expenditures (Non-GAAP)	$	783	$	1,247	$	1,796	$	2,601

Free Cash Flow (in millions)
Net cash provided by operating activities	$	2,442	$	1,561	$	4,175	$	2,108
Less capital expenditures	755		1,089		1,734		1,780
Free cash flow, net of financings (Non-GAAP)	$	1,687	$	472	$	2,441	$	328

Net cash provided by operating activities	$	2,442	$	1,561	$	4,175	$	2,108
Less adjusted capital expenditures (Non-GAAP)	783		1,247		1,796		2,601
Free cash flow (Non-GAAP)	$	1,659	$	314	$	2,379	$	(493)

UNITED CONTINENTAL HOLDINGS, INC.
NOTES (UNAUDITED)

(B) Select passenger revenue information is as follows (in millions):

	2Q 2018 Passenger Revenue (millions)		Passenger Revenue vs. 2Q 2017	PRASM vs. 2Q 2017	Yield vs. 2Q 2017	Available Seat Miles vs. 2Q 2017

Mainline	$	4,395	8.7%	1.7%	1.6%	6.9%
Regional	1,786		10.6%	0.9%	(1.0%)	9.6%
Domestic	6,181		9.2%	1.7%	1.3%	7.4%

Atlantic	1,824		12.9%	7.9%	0.9%	4.7%
Pacific	1,103		3.7%	3.4%	4.3%	0.2%
Latin America	772		(5.2%)	(2.9%)	(4.2%)	(2.3%)
International	3,699		5.9%	4.3%	1.4%	1.6%

Consolidated	$	9,880	8.0%	3.0%	1.5%	4.8%


Mainline	$	8,045	7.4%	3.0%	1.5%	4.3%
Regional	1,835		10.6%	1.3%	(0.6%)	9.3%
Consolidated	$	9,880

UNITED CONTINENTAL HOLDINGS, INC.
NOTES (UNAUDITED)

(C) Special charges and MTM losses on equity investments include the following:

	Three Months Ended June 30,				Six Months Ended June 30,
(In millions)	2018		2017		2018		2017
Operating:
Impairment of assets	$	111	$	—	$	134	$	—
Severance and benefit costs	11		41		25		78
(Gains) losses on sale of assets and other special charges	7		3		10		17
Total special charges	129		44		169		95
Nonoperating MTM losses on equity investments	135		—		90		—
Total special charges and MTM losses on equity investments	264		44		259		95
Income tax benefit related to special charges	(29)		(16)		(38)		(34)
Income tax benefit related to MTM losses on equity investments	(30)		—		(20)		—
Total special charges and MTM losses on equity investments, net of income taxes	$	205	$	28	$	201	$	61

Impairment of assets: In May 2018, the Brazil–United States open skies agreement was ratified, which provides air carriers with unrestricted access between the United States and Brazil. The company determined that the approval of the open skies agreement impaired the entire value of its Brazil route authorities because the agreement removes all limitations or reciprocity requirements for flights between the United States and Brazil. Accordingly, the company recorded a $105 million special charge ($82 million net of taxes) to write off the entire value of the intangible asset associated with its Brazil routes. This asset is not part of any collateral pledged against any of the company's borrowings. The company continues to maintain its slot assets related to Brazil since airport access is still restricted by slot allocations that are limited by airport facility constraints. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2018, the company also recorded $6 million ($5 million net of taxes) and $29 million ($22 million net of taxes), respectively, of fair value adjustments related to aircraft purchased off lease and other impairments related to certain fleet types and international slots no longer in use.

Severance and benefit costs: During the three and six months ended June 30, 2018, the company recorded severance and benefit costs related to a voluntary early-out program for its technicians and related employees represented by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters of $6 million ($4 million net of taxes) and $14 million ($11 million net of taxes), respectively. In the first quarter of 2017, approximately 1,000 technicians and related employees elected to voluntarily separate from the company and will receive a severance payment, with a maximum value of $100,000 per participant, based on years of service, with retirement dates through 2018. Also during the three and six months ended June 30, 2018, the company recorded other management severance of $5 million ($4 million net of taxes) and $11 million ($8 million net of taxes), respectively.

During the three and six months ended June 30, 2017, the company recorded $36 million ($23 million net of taxes) and $57 million ($37 million net of taxes), respectively, of severance and benefit costs related to the voluntary early-out program for its technicians and related employees, and $5 million ($3 million net of taxes) and $21 million ($13 million net of taxes), respectively, of management severance.

(Gains) losses on sale of assets and other special charges: During the three and six months ended June 30, 2018, the Company recorded $7 million ($5 million net of taxes) and $10 million ($8 million net of taxes), respectively, of other special charges related primarily to contract termination of regional aircraft operations in Guam.

MTM losses on equity investments: During the three and six months ended June 30, 2018, the company recorded losses of $135 million ($105 million net of taxes) and $90 million ($70 million net of taxes), respectively, for the change in market value of its investment in Azul, S.A. For equity investments subject to MTM accounting, the company records gains and losses to Nonoperating income (expense): Miscellaneous, net in its statements of consolidated operations.

(D) Effective tax rate

The company's effective tax rate for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018 was 20.2%, and the effective tax rate for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 was 35.7% and 35.5%, respectively. The effective tax rate represents a blend of federal, state and foreign taxes and included the impact of certain nondeductible items. The effective tax rate for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018 also reflects the reduced federal corporate income tax rate as a result of the enactment of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the "Tax Act") in December 2017 and the impact of a change in the company's mix of domestic and foreign earnings. We continue to analyze the different aspects of the Tax Act which could potentially affect the provisional estimates that were recorded at December 31, 2017.

SOURCE United Airlines