United’s earnings, business-travel bookings boost shares
Posted Jan 16, 2019 02:56:24 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
United Airlines executives say business travellers are booking flights at a faster clip than a year ago.
The airline said Wednesday that business-travel bookings in the first week of January rose 11 per cent from a year ago. On top of its quarterly earnings that beat expectations, the comments helped boost United’s stock almost 7 per cent in afternoon trading.
CEO Oscar Munoz says the partial government shutdown isn’t having a major impact, but the airline is watching the situation closely.
Chicago-based United says occasional long security lines haven’t caused it to delay flights. Government security screeners, who aren’t getting paychecks, have been calling in sick at higher rates.
United reported Tuesday it earned $462 million in the fourth quarter, down 20 per cent from a year earlier but better than analysts expected.
David Koenig, The Associated Press
