United Airlines will not recapture 100% of its jet fuel expenses in the fourth quarter, according to Chief Executive Officer Scott Kirby. The company predicts that oil prices will remain elevated through 2027, a long-term trend that creates ongoing margin pressure for the carrier even as resilient traveler demand drove passenger revenue to $16.24B in the third quarter.
This outlook follows a third-quarter miss on adjusted earnings per share of $2.54 against an estimated $2.61, though operating revenue rose 17.4% to $17.88B. For the final three months of the year, United guided adjusted EPS between $0.50 and $1.50, trailing the $1.88 analyst consensus. To sustain growth, the airline is adding 10 new international destinations and has deployed Starlink on more than 640 planes.
