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United Continental narrows Q4 losses

Last updated: 19:31 26 Jan 2012 GMT, First published: 20:31 26 Jan 2012 GMT

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United Continental Holdings (NYSE:UAL) Thursday reported a smaller fourth-quarter loss as merger expenses weighed on the world's largest airline by traffic.

The parent of U.S. carriers Delta and United also cautioned that costs are set to creep higher as it shrinks its network.

United reported a narrower loss of $138 million for the fourth quarter compared with a $325 million loss a year earlier.
On a per share basis, loss was 42 cents versus the year-earlier $1.01 per share loss.

Excluding integrations costs and other items, the company reported a per-share profit of 30 cents, well ahead of the 12 cents expected by analysts polled by Thomson Reuters.

Total operating revenue improved 5.5 percent to $8.93 billion, despite fuel expense rising 26 percent from a year ago.

Consolidated traffic fell 3.2 percent from a year earlier, while capacity declined 2.5 percent. Load factor, of the percentage of available seats filled, slipped to 81.5 percent from 82 percent.

"Our strong revenue performance is a direct result of offering customers an unmatched global route network and competitive products, and our co-workers' focus on service," United’s executive VP and chief revenue officer said in a statement.

"Our momentum will help deliver the revenue and profitability necessary for us to continue to invest in a great product for our customers."

United said its unit revenue from its mainline domestic operations, its largest entity, increased by 10 percent, while its regional flights generated unit revenue growth of 11 percent.

International flights saw less buoyancy, although Latin America unit revenues were up nearly 12 percent.

Shares of United Continental rose nearly seven percent to $21.75 each Thursday afternoon.

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