CHICAGO, April 22, 2011 – United Continental Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: UAL) today unveiled the merged company’s new environmental commitment with a focus on reducing its impact on the environment in the air, on the ground, at facilities, with its business partners and across its communities. To celebrate Earth Day, the company is introducing Eco-Skies, its initiative and commitment to protecting the environment. As part of this program, today the company is donating up to $2 to Conservation International for every customer who uses a mobile boarding pass, and sponsoring the Earth Day Festival at Daley Plaza in downtown Chicago. “With our commitment to the environment at the new United, we lead commercial aviation as an environmentally responsible company by taking responsible actions today that shape an environmentally sustainable future,” said Toby Enqvist, vice president of environmental affairs and security for United. Eco-Skies and Commitment to the Environment United and Continental share a common focus on protecting the environment, and the integrated environmental programs of the new company will be known as Eco-Skies. As its commitment to the environment, the company will:
1. Reduce fuel use and improve fuel efficiency of its aircraft and vehicles through technology and process innovation
2. Advance and utilize environmentally responsible and cost-efficient alternative fuels
3. Improve the sustainability of products and its facilities, and responsibly manage wastes generated by its business activities
4. Work together with its co-workers and partner with its stakeholders – customers, airports, business partners, suppliers, governments and NGOs – to promote accountability and protect the environment while achieving its business goals Making Strides in Sustainability “We are expanding upon the solid track records that United and Continental have built by improving aircraft fuel efficiency and introducing sustainability programs,” said Enqvist.
Some examples of the companies’ environmental accomplishments are:
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Improved fuel efficiency by 32 percent since 1994: New Boeing and Airbus aircraft on order are more than 20 percent more fuel efficient than the planes they will replace, and adding winglets to existing planes improves fuel efficiency by up to 5 percent.
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Leading the industry in advancement of alternative fuels: Continental was the first North American carrier to perform a two-engine aircraft flight demonstration using sustainable biofuels derived from algae and jatropha, and United made the first U.S. commercial flight using synthetic fuel made from natural gas. At its stations, more than 3,600 of the company’s ground service equipment are alternatively fueled or zero emission.
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Improving sustainability of products and facilities: Over the last five years, the companies recycled more than three million pounds of aluminum cans and plastic items from waste generated in-flight. At its hubs and facilities, the company reduces waste, recycles and builds LEED-certified office space when possible.
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Partnering with its customers, employees and business partners to make a difference: The companies provide customers the option to save paper and use mobile boarding. Customers also may go carbon neutral by purchasing carbon offsets through the company’s nonprofit partner Sustainable Travel International.
Donating to Conservation International for Every Customer Who Uses Mobile Boarding For every customer who uses a mobile boarding document to board on Earth Day, the company will donate $1 to help Protect an Acre with its global nonprofit partner Conservation International.* For customers who use the Continental Mobile App for Android® or iPhone®, the company will double the contribution to $2. Conservation International’s Protect an Acre initiative works to curb tropical deforestation, a leading cause of climate change, while preserving the livelihoods of local communities and the natural habitats of threatened species. More than 10 million customers have used their cell phone or PDA at 89 domestic and international airports equipped to accept mobile boarding passes since the airlines introduced the program in 2007. United and Continental customers have saved approximately 1,200 trees by opting to board using a mobile device in lieu of a printed boarding pass.
The Teamsters Union and United Airlines Inc. have reached a tentative agreement on a contract for the 5,500 aircraft technicians and related employees throughout the U.S., Teamsters General President James P. Hoffa announced today. This is the first contract negotiated by the Teamsters for the group since the workers voted to join the union in March 2008.
“This tentative agreement marks the start of new day for United mechanics,” Hoffa said. “This contract makes significant gains in a number of key areas where our members felt they had lost ground in previous contracts. Our negotiating team made addressing these areas their number one priority and did an outstanding job.”
Details of the contract will not be released until after it has been presented to and reviewed by the membership in the coming weeks. The union’s negotiation team is currently working on the scheduling of membership meetings and securing a date for the ratification vote.
“This is a historic step in the continuing merger process of United and Continental Airlines,” said Airline Division Director David Bourne. “I would like to congratulate and commend the hard work and dedication of the union negotiating team, and also want to acknowledge the positive working relationship exhibited by United’s management and negotiators during this two-year process.”
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United Continental Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: UAL) today announced travel options for United and Continental customers whose flight plans may be affected by the earthquake in Japan. Conditions at local airports are expected to lead to the delay or cancellation of certain flights to and from Japan, including at the carriers’ hub at Narita International Airport. Other cities throughout Japan may also be affected.
United and Continental are closely monitoring conditions in Japan and across the Pacific. The airlines have customer service activities and operations planning underway, and will provide updates at united.com and continental.com. In addition, the company is looking after the needs of its employees in the region.
Customers scheduled to travel to the region are encouraged to check their flight status on their respective company’s websites. Additional information about potential flight delays, cancellations and gate changes is available at United’s EasyUpdate service or Continental’s TripAlert service, which provide customers notifications via phone, text or e-mail.
Change Flights for No Fee at united.com or continental.com
Customers scheduled on flights to, from or through the impacted areas through March 15, 2011, may reschedule their itinerary with a one-time date or time change, and the change fees will be waived. If a flight has been canceled, a refund in the original form of payment may be requested. Complete details and eligible travel dates are available at united.com and continental.com.
The fastest and most convenient way to change travel plans is via united.com or continental.com. Customers should continue to manage their reservations on the respective company’s website from which their ticket was purchased. Customers may also book a new reservation, change an existing reservation or check flight status by calling United Reservations at 800-UNITED-1 or Continental Reservations at 800-525-0280 or their travel agent.
United Continental ANNOUNCES CONSOLIDATED CAPACITY REDUCTION DUE TO RISING FUEL PRICES March 7th, 2011
CHICAGO, March 7, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — United Continental Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: UAL) today reported February 2011 operational results for United Air Lines, Inc. and Continental Airlines, Inc.
United and Continental’s combined consolidated traffic (revenue passenger miles) in February 2011 decreased 1.1 percent versus pro forma February 2010 results on a consolidated capacity (available seat miles) increase of 1.8 percent. The carriers’ combined consolidated load factor in February 2011 was down 2.3 points compared to the pro forma results from the same period last year.
United and Continental’s February 2011 combined consolidated passenger revenue per available seat mile (PRASM) increased an estimated 10.5 to 11.5 percent compared to the pro forma results from February 2010, while combined mainline PRASM in February 2011 increased an estimated 11.0 to 12.0 percent compared to the pro forma results from the same period last year.
In addition, the company’s results were impacted by the required implementation of Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2009-13, Multiple Deliverable Revenue Arrangements—A Consensus of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force, which defines whether multiple deliverables exist, how the deliverables should be separated and how the consideration should be allocated to one or more units of accounting. This standard has been implemented by the company prospectively as of Jan. 1, 2011, and is applied to new sales of air transportation that include a mileage credit. The standard has the effect of decreasing the value of the mileage credit component that the company defers under the deferred revenue accounting method for its frequent flyer program and, therefore, increases the passenger revenue recorded at the time the air transportation is provided. The implementation of this accounting standard is estimated to have increased the company’s year-over-year PRASM by approximately 1 point in February. For additional information regarding this accounting standard, please see the company’s Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Consolidated Capacity Reduction
Due to the recent increase in fuel prices, the company plans to reduce consolidated capacity from its previous 2011 projections by approximately 1 percent effective with its May schedule and 4 percent effective with its September schedule. With these reductions, fourth quarter 2011 consolidated domestic capacity is expected to decrease 5 percent and consolidated international capacity is expected to increase 2 percent compared to the pro forma capacity for the same period last year. The capacity changes will be accomplished through reducing flight frequencies, indefinitely postponing the start of flights to certain markets and exiting less profitable routes.
The company now expects its full-year 2011 consolidated capacity to be roughly flat year-over-year, down from its prior guidance of up 1 to 2 percent. The company now expects full-year 2011 international capacity to be up 2.5 to 3.5 percent and full-year 2011 domestic capacity to be down 1.5 to 2.5 percent year-over-year.
Concurrent with the capacity reductions, the company is also analyzing the removal of certain less fuel-efficient aircraft from its fleet and will be taking other cost saving measures.
Boeing 747 Debuts in New United Livery February 24th, 2011
CHICAGO, Feb. 24, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — United Continental Holdings, Inc. unveiled the largest aircraft in its fleet, the 374-seat Boeing 747-400, in the new United livery. With the first 747-400 rebranding completed, the carrier now has at least one of each of its mainline fleet types painted in the new United livery. The company has completed painting 309 mainline and regional aircraft, which is more than 20 percent of its total fleet. The ongoing visual rebranding of the company will accelerate in the months ahead, and customers will begin to see rebranded airport facilities and new advertising.
United and Continental Offer Rebooking Options to Customers Affected by Winter Weather January 31st, 2011
CUSTOMERS TRAVELING TO IMPACTED CITIES MAY RESCHEDULE WITHOUT PENALTY ON UNITED.COM OR CONTINENTAL.COM
CHICAGO, Jan. 31, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — United Continental Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: UAL) today announced travel options for United and Continental customers whose flight plans may be affected by severe winter weather forecast for the Midwest and Northeast regions. Weather conditions are expected to lead to the delay or cancellation of certain flights at United’s hub at Chicago O’Hare International Airport and Continental’s hubs at Newark Liberty International Airport and Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. Operations at other airports throughout these regions may also be affected.
Change Flights for No Fee at united.com or continental.com
Customers scheduled on flights to, from or through the affected areas for travel from Jan. 31 through Feb. 3 may reschedule their itinerary with a one-time date or time change, and the change fees will be waived. If a flight has been canceled, a refund in the original form of payment may be requested. Complete details and eligible travel dates are available at united.com and continental.com.
The fastest and most convenient way to change travel plans is via united.com or continental.com. Customers should continue to manage their reservations on the respective company’s website from which their ticket was purchased. Customers may also book a new reservation, change an existing reservation or check flight status by calling United Reservations at 800-UNITED-1 or Continental Reservations at 800-525-0280 or their travel agent. Another excellent way to receive information about flight delays, cancellations and gate changes is with United’s EasyUpdate service or Continental’s TripAlert service, which provide customers notifications via phone, text or e-mail.