Form 10-Q
Table of Contents

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 10-Q

 

 

(Mark One)

x QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2013

OR

 

¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from                       to                      

 

 

 

Commission

File Number

 

Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter,

Principal Office Address and Telephone Number

 

State of

Incorporation

 

I.R.S. Employer

Identification No

001-06033

  United Continental Holdings, Inc.   Delaware   36-2675207
  233 South Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606    
  (312) 997-8000    

001-10323

  United Airlines, Inc.   Delaware   74-2099724
  233 South Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606    
  (312) 997-8000    

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

 

United Continental Holdings, Inc.    Yes  x    No  ¨          United Airlines, Inc.    Yes  x    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this Chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).

 

United Continental Holdings, Inc.    Yes  x    No  ¨          United Airlines, Inc.    Yes  x    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

United Continental Holdings, Inc.   Large accelerated filer x   Accelerated filer ¨   Non-accelerated filer ¨   Smaller reporting company ¨
United Airlines, Inc.   Large accelerated filer ¨   Accelerated filer ¨   Non-accelerated filer x   Smaller reporting company ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

 

United Continental Holdings, Inc.    Yes  ¨    No  x
United Airlines, Inc.    Yes  ¨    No  x

The number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock as of April 15, 2013 is shown below:

 

United Continental Holdings, Inc.    333,937,517 shares of common stock ($0.01 par value)
United Airlines, Inc.   

1,000 (100% owned by United Continental Holdings, Inc.)

There is no market for United Airlines, Inc. common stock.

 

 

 


Table of Contents

OMISSION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION

This combined Form 10-Q is separately filed by United Continental Holdings, Inc. and United Airlines, Inc. United Airlines, Inc. meets the conditions set forth in General Instruction H(1)(a) and (b) of Form 10-Q and are therefore filing this form with the reduced disclosure format allowed under that General Instruction.

United Continental Holdings, Inc.

United Airlines, Inc.

Report on Form 10-Q

For the Quarter Ended March 31, 2013

 

     Page  

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

  

Item 1. Financial Statements

     3   

United Continental Holdings, Inc.:

     3   

Statements of Consolidated Operations

     3   

Statements of Consolidated Comprehensive Income (Loss)

     4   

Consolidated Balance Sheets

     5-6   

Condensed Statements of Consolidated Cash Flows

     7   

United Airlines, Inc.:

     8   

Statements of Consolidated Operations

     8   

Statements of Consolidated Comprehensive Income (Loss)

     9   

Consolidated Balance Sheets

     10-11   

Condensed Statements of Consolidated Cash Flows

     12   

Combined Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(United Continental Holdings, Inc. and United Airlines, Inc.)

     13   

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

     27   

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

     35   

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

     35   

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

  

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

     36   

Item 1A. Risk Factors

     36   

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

     36   

Item 6. Exhibits

     37   

Signatures

     38   

Exhibit Index

     39   

 

2


Table of Contents

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

UNITED CONTINENTAL HOLDINGS, INC.

STATEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATED OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED)

(In millions, except per share amounts)

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
     2013     2012  

Operating revenue:

    

Passenger—Mainline

   $ 5,938      $ 5,954   

Passenger—Regional

     1,621        1,554   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total passenger revenue

     7,559        7,508   

Cargo

     227        264   

Other operating revenue

     935        830   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
     8,721        8,602   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating expense:

    

Aircraft fuel

     3,050        3,229   

Salaries and related costs

     2,127        1,897   

Regional capacity purchase

     588        616   

Landing fees and other rent

     497        469   

Aircraft maintenance materials and outside repairs

     438        407   

Depreciation and amortization

     408        380   

Distribution expenses

     328        337   

Aircraft rent

     240        251   

Special charges (Note 10)

     92        164   

Other operating expenses

     1,217        1,123   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
     8,985        8,873   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating loss

     (264     (271

Nonoperating income (expense):

    

Interest expense

     (201     (216

Interest capitalized

     11        8   

Interest income

     5        5   

Miscellaneous, net

     23        27   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
     (162     (176
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Loss before income taxes

     (426     (447

Income tax expense (benefit)

     (9     1   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss

   $ (417   $ (448
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Loss per share, basic and diluted

   $ (1.26   $ (1.36
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

The accompanying Combined Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of these statements.

 

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Table of Contents

UNITED CONTINENTAL HOLDINGS, INC.

STATEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATED COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) (UNAUDITED)

(In millions)

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
     2013     2012  

Net loss

   $ (417   $ (448

Other comprehensive income, net:

    

Net change related to fuel derivative financial instruments

     —          124   

Net change related to employee benefit plans

     21        4   

Net change related to investments and other

     (2     9   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
     19        137   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total comprehensive loss, net

   $ (398   $ (311
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

The accompanying Combined Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of these statements.

 

4


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UNITED CONTINENTAL HOLDINGS, INC.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In millions, except shares)

 

     (Unaudited)        
     March 31, 2013     December 31, 2012  

ASSETS

    

Current assets:

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 3,538      $ 4,770   

Short-term investments

     1,852        1,773   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total unrestricted cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments

     5,390        6,543   

Restricted cash

     50        65   

Receivables, less allowance for doubtful accounts (2013 — $20; 2012 — $13)

     1,679        1,338   

Aircraft fuel, spare parts and supplies, less obsolescence allowance (2013 — $136; 2012 — $125)

     690        695   

Deferred income taxes

     494        543   

Prepaid expenses and other

     845        865   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
     9,148        10,049   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating property and equipment:

    

Owned—

    

Flight equipment

     17,888        17,561   

Other property and equipment

     3,357        3,269   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
     21,245        20,830   

Less — Accumulated depreciation and amortization

     (5,305     (5,006
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
     15,940        15,824   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Purchase deposits for flight equipment

     534        462   

Capital leases—

    

Flight equipment

     1,475        1,484   

Other property and equipment

     235        235   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
     1,710        1,719   

Less — Accumulated amortization

     (747     (713
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
     963        1,006   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
     17,437        17,292   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other assets:

    

Goodwill

     4,523        4,523   

Intangibles, less accumulated amortization (2013 — $828; 2012 — $792)

     4,561        4,597   

Restricted cash

     385        382   

Other, net

     788        785   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
     10,257        10,287   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
   $ 36,842      $ 37,628   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(continued on next page)

 

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Table of Contents

UNITED CONTINENTAL HOLDINGS, INC.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In millions, except shares)

 

     (Unaudited)        
     March 31, 2013     December 31, 2012  

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

    

Current liabilities:

    

Advance ticket sales

   $ 4,633      $ 3,360   

Frequent flyer deferred revenue

     2,312        2,364   

Accounts payable

     2,293        2,312   

Accrued salaries and benefits

     1,455        1,763   

Current maturities of long-term debt

     1,079        1,812   

Current maturities of capital leases

     121        122   

Other

     999        1,085   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
     12,892        12,818   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Long-term debt

     10,182        10,440   

Long-term obligations under capital leases

     765        792   

Other liabilities and deferred credits:

    

Frequent flyer deferred revenue

     2,755        2,756   

Postretirement benefit liability

     2,632        2,614   

Pension liability

     2,385        2,400   

Advanced purchase of miles

     1,488        1,537   

Deferred income taxes

     1,485        1,543   

Lease fair value adjustment, net

     836        881   

Other

     1,328        1,366   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
     12,909        13,097   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Commitments and contingencies

    

Stockholders’ equity:

    

Preferred stock

     —          —     

Common stock at par, $0.01 par value; authorized 1,000,000,000 shares; outstanding 333,851,337 and 332,472,779 shares at March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively

     3        3   

Additional capital invested

     7,159        7,145   

Accumulated deficit

     (6,003     (5,586

Stock held in treasury, at cost

     (38     (35

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

     (1,027     (1,046
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
     94        481   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
   $ 36,842      $ 37,628   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

The accompanying Combined Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of these statements.

 

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Table of Contents

UNITED CONTINENTAL HOLDINGS, INC.

CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED)

(In millions)

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
     2013     2012  

Cash Flows from Operating Activities:

    

Net cash provided by operating activities

   $ 393      $ 124   

Cash Flows from Investing Activities:

    

Capital expenditures and aircraft purchase deposits paid

     (375     (301

Increase in short-term and other investments, net

     (77     (148

Proceeds from sale of property and equipment

     9        89   

(Increase) decrease in restricted cash, net

     12        (2
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash used in investing activities

     (431     (362
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash Flows from Financing Activities:

    

Payments of long-term debt

     (1,241     (479

Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt

     109        86   

Principal payments under capital leases

     (29     (23

Other, net

     (33     14   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash used in financing activities

     (1,194     (402
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents during the period

     (1,232     (640

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the period

     4,770        6,246   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of the period

   $ 3,538      $ 5,606   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Investing and Financing Activities Not Affecting Cash:

    

Property and equipment acquired through the issuance of debt

   $ 146      $ 136   

Airport construction financing

     5        16   

The accompanying Combined Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of these statements.

 

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UNITED AIRLINES, INC.

STATEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATED OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED)

(In millions)

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
     2013     2012  

Operating revenue:

    

Passenger—Mainline

   $ 5,938      $ 5,954   

Passenger—Regional

     1,621        1,554   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total passenger revenue

     7,559        7,508   

Cargo

     227        264   

Other operating revenue

     937        832   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
     8,723        8,604   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating expense:

    

Aircraft fuel

     3,050        3,229   

Salaries and related costs

     2,127        1,897   

Regional capacity purchase

     588        616   

Landing fees and other rent

     497        469   

Aircraft maintenance materials and outside repairs

     438        407   

Depreciation and amortization

     408        380   

Distribution expenses

     328        337   

Aircraft rent

     240        251   

Special charges (Note 10)

     92        164   

Other operating expenses

     1,217        1,122   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
     8,985        8,872   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating loss

     (262     (268

Nonoperating income (expense):

    

Interest expense

     (203     (217

Interest capitalized

     11        8   

Interest income

     5        5   

Miscellaneous, net

     85        42   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
     (102     (162
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Loss before income taxes

     (364     (430

Income tax expense (benefit)

     (2     1   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss

   $ (362   $ (431
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

The accompanying Combined Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of these statements.

 

8


Table of Contents

UNITED AIRLINES, INC.

STATEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATED COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) (UNAUDITED)

(In millions)

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
     2013     2012  

Net loss

   $ (362   $ (431

Other comprehensive income, net:

    

Net change related to fuel derivative financial instruments

     —          124   

Net change related to employee benefit plans

     21        4   

Net change related to investments and other

     (1     10   

Other

     6        —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
     26        138   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total comprehensive loss, net

   $ (336   $ (293
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

The accompanying Combined Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of these statements.

 

9


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UNITED AIRLINES, INC.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In millions, except shares)

 

     (Unaudited)        
     March 31, 2013     December 31, 2012  

ASSETS

    

Current assets:

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 3,532      $ 4,765   

Short-term investments

     1,852        1,773   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total unrestricted cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments

     5,384        6,538   

Restricted cash

     50        65   

Receivables from related parties

     229        226   

Receivables, less allowance for doubtful accounts (2013 — $20; 2012 — $13)

     1,679        1,338   

Aircraft fuel, spare parts and supplies, less obsolescence allowance (2013 — $136; 2012 — $125)

     690        695   

Deferred income taxes

     499        546   

Prepaid expenses and other

     841        841   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
     9,372        10,249   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating property and equipment:

    

Owned—

    

Flight equipment

     17,888        17,561   

Other property and equipment

     3,357        3,269   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
     21,245        20,830   

Less — Accumulated depreciation and amortization

     (5,305     (5,006
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
     15,940        15,824   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Purchase deposits for flight equipment

     534        462   

Capital leases—

    

Flight equipment

     1,475        1,484   

Other property and equipment

     235        235   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
     1,710        1,719   

Less — Accumulated amortization

     (747     (713
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
     963        1,006   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
     17,437        17,292   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other assets:

    

Goodwill

     4,523        4,523   

Intangibles, less accumulated amortization (2013 — $828; 2012 — $792)

     4,561        4,597   

Restricted cash

     385        382   

Other, net

     1,200        1,052   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
     10,669        10,554   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
   $ 37,478      $ 38,095   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(continued on next page)

 

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Table of Contents

UNITED AIRLINES, INC.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In millions, except shares)

 

     (Unaudited)        
     March 31, 2013     December 31, 2012  

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDER’S EQUITY

    

Current liabilities:

    

Advance ticket sales

   $ 4,633      $ 3,360   

Frequent flyer deferred revenue

     2,312        2,364   

Accounts payable

     2,296        2,316   

Accrued salaries and benefits

     1,455        1,763   

Current maturities of long-term debt

     1,079        1,812   

Current maturities of capital leases

     121        122   

Payables to related parties

     73        75   

Other

     1,073        1,140   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
     13,042        12,952   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Long-term debt

     9,783        10,038   

Long-term obligations under capital leases

     765        792   

Other liabilities and deferred credits:

    

Frequent flyer deferred revenue

     2,755        2,756   

Postretirement benefit liability

     2,632        2,614   

Pension liability

     2,385        2,400   

Advanced purchase of miles

     1,488        1,537   

Deferred income taxes

     1,415        1,470   

Lease fair value adjustment

     836        881   

Other

     1,537        1,494   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
     13,048        13,152   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Commitments and contingencies

    

Stockholder’s equity:

    

Common stock at par, $0.01 par value; authorized 1,000 shares; issued and outstanding 1,000 shares at both March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012

     —          —     

Additional capital invested

     7,625        7,611   

Accumulated deficit

     (5,758     (5,397

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

     (1,027     (1,053
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
     840        1,161   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
   $ 37,478      $ 38,095   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

The accompanying Combined Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of these statements.

 

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Table of Contents

UNITED AIRLINES, INC.

CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED)

(In millions)

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
     2013     2012  

Cash Flows from Operating Activities:

    

Net cash provided by operating activities

   $ 389      $ 124   

Cash Flows from Investing Activities:

    

Capital expenditures and aircraft purchase deposits paid

     (375     (301

Increase in short-term and other investments, net

     (77     (148

Proceeds from sale of property and equipment

     9        89   

(Increase) decrease in restricted cash, net

     12        (2
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash used in investing activities

     (431     (362
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash Flows from Financing Activities:

    

Payments of long-term debt

     (1,241     (479

Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt

     109        86   

Principal payments under capital leases

     (29     (23

Other, net

     (30     14   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash used in financing activities

     (1,191     (402
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents

     (1,233     (640

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the period

     4,765        6,240   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of the period

   $ 3,532      $ 5,600   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Investing and Financing Activities Not Affecting Cash:

    

Property and equipment acquired through the issuance of debt

   $ 146      $ 136   

Airport construction financing

     5        16   

The accompanying Combined Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of these statements.

 

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Table of Contents

UNITED CONTINENTAL HOLDINGS, INC. AND UNITED AIRLINES, INC.

COMBINED NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

United Continental Holdings, Inc. (together with its consolidated subsidiaries, “UAL” or the “Company”) is a holding company and its principal, wholly-owned subsidiary is United Airlines, Inc. (together with its consolidated subsidiaries, “United”). This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q is a combined report of UAL and United including their respective consolidated financial statements. As UAL consolidates United for financial statement purposes, disclosures that relate to activities of United also apply to UAL, unless otherwise noted. United’s operating revenues and operating expenses comprise nearly 100% of UAL’s revenues and operating expenses. In addition, United comprises approximately the entire balance of UAL’s assets, liabilities and operating cash flows. When appropriate, UAL and United are named specifically for their individual contractual obligations and related disclosures and any significant differences between the operations and results of UAL and United are separately disclosed and explained. We sometimes use the words “we,” “our,” “us,” and the “Company” in this report for disclosures that relate to all of UAL and United.

On May 2, 2010, UAL Corporation, Continental Airlines, Inc. (together with its consolidated subsidiaries, “Continental”) and JT Merger Sub Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of UAL Corporation, entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger. On October 1, 2010, JT Merger Sub Inc. merged with and into Continental, with Continental surviving as a wholly-owned subsidiary of UAL Corporation (the “Merger”). Upon closing of the Merger, UAL Corporation became the parent company of both United Air Lines, Inc. and Continental and UAL Corporation’s name was changed to United Continental Holdings, Inc. On March 31, 2013, the Company merged United Air Lines, Inc. with and into Continental to form one legal entity, and Continental’s name was changed to United Airlines, Inc. The financial statements of United Air Lines, Inc. and Continental are now combined at their historical cost for all periods presented.

The UAL and United unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements shown here have been prepared as required by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Some information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements that comply with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) have been condensed or omitted as permitted by the SEC. The financial statements include all adjustments, including normal recurring adjustments and other adjustments, which are considered necessary for a fair presentation of the Company’s financial position and results of operations. The UAL and United financial statements should be read together with the information included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012 (the “2012 Annual Report”). The Company’s quarterly financial data is subject to seasonal fluctuations and historically its second and third quarter financial results, which reflect higher travel demand, are better than its first and fourth quarter financial results.

NOTE 1—FREQUENT FLYER ACCOUNTING

Frequent Flyer Awards. The Company revised the estimated selling price of miles as a prospective change in estimate, effective January 1, 2012, based on the price at which the Company sells miles to Star Alliance partners in its reciprocal frequent flyer agreements as the best estimate of the selling price for these miles. Any changes to the composition of Star Alliance airline partners may result in the existing estimated selling price of air transportation miles no longer being representative of the best estimate of the selling price and could result in a change to the amount and method we use to determine the estimated selling price. On February 14, 2013, US Airways announced an agreement to merge with AMR Corporation and its intent to exit Star Alliance as a result of such merger. We are currently evaluating the potential impact of any changes to the estimated selling price of miles as a result of this merger.

NOTE 2—NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

In February 2013, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2013-02 (“ASU 2013-02”), Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Reporting of Amounts Reclassified Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income. Some of the key amendments require the Company to present, either on the face of the statement of operations or in the notes, the effects on the line items of net income of significant amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive, but only if the amount reclassified is required under U.S. GAAP to be reclassified to net income in its entirety in the same reporting period. For amounts that are not required to be reclassified in their entirety to net income, the Company is required to cross-reference to other disclosures that provide additional detail about those amounts. ASU 2013-02 became effective for the Company’s annual and interim periods beginning January 1, 2013, and the required disclosures are included in Note 11 of this report.

 

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NOTE 3—LOSS PER SHARE

The table below represents the computation of UAL’s basic and diluted loss per share amounts and the number of securities that have been excluded from the computation of diluted loss per share amounts because they were antidilutive (in millions, except per share amounts):

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
     2013     2012  

Basic and diluted loss per share:

    

Loss available to common stockholders

   $ (417   $ (448
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Weighted average shares outstanding, basic and diluted

     332        330   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Loss per share, basic and diluted

   $ (1.26   $ (1.36
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Potentially dilutive shares excluded from diluted per share amounts:

    

Restricted stock and stock options

     4        7   

4.5% senior limited-subordination convertible notes

     5        5   

4.5% convertible notes

     12        12   

6% convertible junior subordinated debentures

     4        4   

6% senior convertible notes

     40        40   

NOTE 4—INCOME TAXES

Our effective tax rates are lower than the federal statutory rate of 35% primarily because of the impact of changes to existing valuation allowances. We continue to provide a valuation allowance for our deferred tax assets in excess of deferred tax liabilities because we have concluded that it is more likely than not that such deferred tax assets will ultimately not be realized.

United files a consolidated federal income tax return with UAL. Under an intercompany tax allocation policy, United computes, records and pays UAL for its own tax liability as if United were a separate company filing a separate return. In determining its own tax liabilities, United takes into account all tax credits or benefits generated and utilized as a separate company and it is compensated for the aforementioned tax benefits only if it would be able to use those benefits on a separate company basis.

NOTE 5—EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS

Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans. The Company’s net periodic benefit cost includes the following components (in millions):

 

     Pension Benefits     Other Postretirement Benefits  
     Three Months Ended
March 31,
    Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
     2013     2012     2013     2012  

Service cost

   $ 33      $ 25      $ 14      $ 13   

Interest cost

     47        46        28        31   

Expected return on plan assets

     (40     (35     (1     (1

Amortization of unrecognized (gain) loss and prior service cost

     18        5        3        (1
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net periodic benefit costs

   $ 58      $ 41      $ 44      $ 42   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

During the three months ended March 31, 2013, the Company contributed $41 million to its tax-qualified defined benefit pension plans.

Share-Based Compensation. In February 2013, UAL granted share-based compensation awards pursuant to the United Continental Holdings, Inc. 2008 Incentive Compensation Plan. These share-based compensation awards include approximately 0.5 million shares of restricted stock and 0.5 million restricted stock units (“RSUs”) that vest pro-rata over three years on the anniversary of the grant date. The time-vested RSUs are cash-settled based on the 20-day average closing price of UAL common stock immediately prior to the vesting date. In addition, the Company granted 1.3 million performance-based RSUs that will vest based on the Company’s return on invested capital for the three years ending December 31, 2015. If this performance condition is achieved, cash payments will be made after the end of the performance period based on the 20-day average closing price of UAL common stock immediately prior to the vesting date. The Company accounts for the RSUs as liability awards. The table below presents information related to share-based compensation (in millions):

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
     2013      2012  

Share-based compensation expense (a)

   $ 27       $ 15   
     March 31, 2013      December 31, 2012  

Unrecognized share-based compensation expense

   $ 58       $ 33   

 

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(a) Includes $8 million and $4 million of expense recognized in Merger integration-related costs for the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

Profit Sharing Plans. In 2013, substantially all employees participate in profit sharing plans, which pay 15% of total pre-tax earnings, excluding special items and share-based compensation expense, to eligible employees when pre-tax profit, excluding special items, profit sharing expense and share-based compensation program expense, exceeds $10 million. Eligible U.S. co-workers in each participating work group receive a profit sharing payout using a formula based on the ratio of each qualified co-worker’s annual eligible earnings to the eligible earnings of all qualified co-workers in all domestic workgroups. The international profit sharing plan pays eligible non-U.S. co-workers the same percentage of eligible pay that is calculated under the U.S. profit sharing plan. Profit sharing expense is recorded as a component of salaries and related costs in the consolidated statements of operations.

 

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NOTE 6—FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS AND FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

The table below presents disclosures about the financial assets and financial liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis in the Company’s financial statements (in millions):

 

     March 31, 2013     December 31, 2012  
     Total     Level 1      Level 2      Level 3     Total     Level 1      Level 2      Level 3  
     UAL  

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 3,538      $ 3,538       $ —         $ —        $ 4,770      $ 4,770       $ —         $ —     

Short-term investments:

                    

Asset-backed securities

     762        —           762         —          715        —           715         —     

Corporate debt

     540        —           540         —          537        —           537         —     

Certificates of deposit placed through an account registry service (“CDARS”)

     399        —           399         —          367        —           367         —     

Auction rate securities

     108        —           —           108        116        —           —           116   

U.S. government and agency notes

     10        —           10         —          12        —           12         —     

Other fixed income securities

     33        —           33         —          26        —           26         —     

Enhanced equipment trust certificates (“EETC”)

     61        —           —           61        63        —           —           63   

Fuel derivatives, net

     73        —           73         —          46        —           46         —     

Restricted cash

     435        435         —           —          447        447         —           —     
     United  

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 3,532      $ 3,532       $ —         $ —        $ 4,765      $ 4,765       $ —         $ —     

Short-term investments:

                    

Asset-backed securities

     762        —           762         —          715        —           715         —     

Corporate debt

     540        —           540         —          537        —           537         —     

CDARS

     399        —           399         —          367        —           367         —     

Auction rate securities

     108        —           —           108        116        —           —           116   

U.S. government and agency notes

     10        —           10         —          12        —           12         —     

Other fixed income securities

     33        —           33         —          26        —           26         —     

EETC

     61        —           —           61        63        —           —           63   

Fuel derivatives, net

     73        —           73         —          46        —           46         —     

Restricted cash

     435        435         —           —          447        447         —           —     

Convertible debt derivative asset

     413        —           —           413        268        —           —           268   

Convertible debt option liability

     (209     —           —           (209     (128     —           —           (128

 

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The tables below present disclosures about the activity for “Level 3” financial assets and financial liabilities (in millions):

 

     Three Months Ended March 31,  
     2013     2012  

UAL

   Auction Rate
Securities
    EETC     Auction Rate
Securities
    EETC  

Balance at January 1

   $ 116      $ 63      $ 113      $ 60   

Settlements

     (10     (2     —          (2

Gains (losses):

        

Reported in earnings—realized

     2        —          —          —     

Reported in earnings—unrealized

     1        —          (1     —     

Reported in other comprehensive income (loss)

     (1     —          —          4   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance at March 31

   $ 108      $ 61      $ 112      $ 62   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

     Three Months Ended March 31,  
     2013     2012  

United

   Auction
Rate
Securities
    Convertible
Debt
Supplemental
Derivative
Asset
     Convertible
Debt
Conversion
Option
Liability
    EETC     Auction
Rate
Securities
    Convertible
Debt
Supplemental
Derivative
Asset
     Convertible
Debt
Conversion
Option
Liability
    EETC  

Balance at January 1

   $ 116      $ 268       $ (128   $ 63      $ 113      $ 193       $ (95   $ 60   
Purchases, sales, issuances and settlements (net)      (10     —           —          (2     —          —           —          (2

Gains and (losses):

                  

Reported in earnings:

                  

Realized

     2        —           —          —          —          —           —          —     

Unrealized

     1        145         (81     —          (1     38         (24     —     

Reported in other comprehensive income (loss)

     (1     —           —          —          —          —           —          4   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance at March 31

   $ 108      $ 413       $ (209   $ 61      $ 112      $ 231       $ (119   $ 62   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

As of March 31, 2013, the Company’s auction rate securities, which had a par value of $125 million, were variable-rate debt instruments with contractual maturities generally greater than ten years and with interest rates that reset every 7, 28 or 35 days, depending on the terms of the particular instrument. These securities are backed by pools of student loans guaranteed by state-designated guaranty agencies and reinsured by the U.S. government. All of the auction rate securities that the Company holds are senior obligations under the applicable indentures authorizing the issuance of the securities.

As of March 31, 2013, EETC securities had unrealized gains of $2 million. All changes in the fair value of these investments have been classified within accumulated other comprehensive income.

United’s debt-related derivatives presented in the tables above relate to (a) supplemental indenture agreements that provide that United’s convertible debt is convertible into shares of UAL common stock upon the terms and conditions specified in the indentures, and (b) the embedded conversion options in United’s convertible debt that are required to be separated and accounted for as though they are free-standing derivatives as a result of the United debt becoming convertible into the common stock of a different reporting entity. The derivatives described above relate to the 6% convertible junior subordinated debentures due 2030 and the 4.5% convertible notes due 2015. These derivatives are reported in United’s separate financial statements and eliminated in consolidation for UAL.

 

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Derivative instruments and investments presented in the tables above have the same fair value as their carrying value. The table below presents the carrying values and estimated fair values of financial instruments not presented in the tables above (in millions):

 

     Fair Value of Debt by Fair Value Hierarchy Level  
     March 31, 2013      December 31, 2012  
     Carrying
Amount
     Fair Value      Carrying
Amount
     Fair Value  
            Total      Level 1      Level 2      Level 3             Total      Level 1      Level 2      Level 3  

UAL debt

   $ 11,261       $ 13,020       $ —         $ 8,028       $ 4,992       $ 12,252       $ 13,419       $ —         $ 8,045       $ 5,374   

United debt

     10,862         11,745         —           6,753         4,992         11,850         12,460         —           7,086         5,374   

 

Quantitative Information About Level 3 Fair Value Measurements (in millions)

Item

   Fair Value at
March 31, 2013
   

Valuation
Technique

  

Unobservable Input

  

Range (Weighted
Average)

Auction rate securities    $ 108      Discounted Cash Flows    Credit risk premium (a) Illiquidity premium (b)   

1%

5%

        Expected repayments (c)    Assumed repayment in years 2013 through 2036

EETC

     61      Discounted Cash Flows    Structure credit risk (d)    6%
Convertible debt derivative asset      413      Binomial Lattice Model    Expected volatility (e) Own credit risk (f)   

45% - 60% (47%)

6%

Convertible debt option liability      (209   Binomial Lattice Model    Expected volatility (e) Own credit risk (f)   

45% - 60% (47%)

6%

 

(a) Represents the credit risk premium component of the discount rate that the Company has determined market participants would use in pricing the investments.
(b) Represents the illiquidity premium component of the discount rate that the Company has determined market participants would use in pricing the investments.
(c) Represents the estimated timing of principal repayments used in the discounted cash flow model.
(d) Represents the credit risk premium of the EETC structure above the risk-free rate that the Company has determined market participants would use in pricing the instruments.
(e) Represents the range in volatility estimates that the Company has determined market participants would use when pricing the instruments.
(f) Represents the range of Company-specific risk adjustments that the Company has determined market participants would use as a model input.

Valuation Processes—Level 3 Measurements—The Company’s internal valuation group values financial instruments. Depending on the instrument, the valuation group utilizes discounted cash flow methods or option pricing methods as indicated above. Valuations using discounted cash flow methods are generally conducted by the valuation group. Valuations using option pricing models are generally provided to the Company by third-party valuation experts. Each reporting period, the valuation group reviews the unobservable inputs used by third-party valuation experts for reasonableness utilizing relevant information available to the Company from other published sources. The Company has a formal process to review changes in fair value for satisfactory explanation.

Sensitivity Analysis—Level 3 Measurements—Changes in the unobservable input values would be unlikely to cause material changes in the fair value of the auction rate securities and EETCs.

The significant unobservable inputs used in the fair value measurement of the United convertible debt derivative assets and liabilities are the UAL stock expected volatility and the Company’s own credit risk. Significant increases (decreases) in expected volatility would result in a higher (lower) fair value measurement. Significant increases (decreases) in the Company’s own credit risk would result in a lower (higher) fair value measurement. A change in one of the inputs would not necessarily result in a directionally similar change in the other.

 

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Fair value of the financial instruments included in the tables above was determined as follows:

 

Description

  

Fair Value Methodology

Cash and Cash Equivalents

   The carrying amounts approximate fair value because of the short-term maturity of these assets.

Short-term Investments, Investments, and Restricted Cash

   Fair value is based on (a) the trading prices of the investment or similar instruments, (b) an income approach, which uses valuation techniques to convert future amounts into a single present amount based on current market expectations about those future amounts when observable trading prices are not available, or (c) internally-developed models of the expected future cash flows related to the securities. These assets have maturities of less than one year except for the EETCs, auction rate securities and corporate debt.

Fuel Derivatives

   Derivative contracts are privately negotiated contracts and are not exchange traded. Fair value measurements are estimated with option pricing models that employ observable inputs. Inputs to the valuation models include contractual terms, market prices, yield curves, fuel price curves and measures of volatility, among others.

Foreign Currency Derivatives

   Fair value is determined with a formula utilizing observable inputs. Significant inputs to the valuation models include contractual terms, risk-free interest rates and forward exchange rates.

Debt

   Fair values were based on either market prices or the discounted amount of future cash flows using our current incremental rate of borrowing for similar liabilities.

Convertible Debt Derivative Asset and Option Liability

   United used a binomial lattice model to value the conversion options and the supplemental derivative assets. Significant binomial model inputs that are not objectively determinable include volatility and discount rate.

NOTE 7—HEDGING ACTIVITIES

Aircraft Fuel Hedges. To protect against increases in the prices of aircraft fuel, the Company routinely hedges a portion of its future fuel requirements. As of March 31, 2013, the Company had hedged approximately 32% and 11% of its projected fuel requirements (963 million and 428 million gallons, respectively) for the remainder of 2013 and 2014, respectively, with commonly used financial hedge instruments based on aircraft fuel or closely related commodities, such as heating oil, diesel fuel and crude oil. The Company does not enter into derivative instruments for non-risk management purposes.

Upon proper qualification, the Company accounts for certain fuel derivative instruments as cash flow hedges. All derivatives designated as hedges that meet certain requirements are granted special hedge accounting treatment. The types of instruments the Company utilizes that qualify for special hedge accounting treatment typically include swaps, call options, collars (which consist of a purchased call option and a sold put option) and four-way collars (a collar with a higher strike sold call option and a lower strike purchased put option). Generally, utilizing the special hedge accounting, all periodic changes in fair value of the derivatives designated as hedges that are considered to be effective are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (“AOCI”) until the underlying fuel is consumed and recorded in fuel expense. The Company is exposed to the risk that its hedges may not be effective in offsetting changes in the cost of fuel and that its hedges may not continue to qualify for special hedge accounting. Hedge ineffectiveness results when the change in the fair value of the derivative instrument exceeds the change in the value of the Company’s expected future cash outlay to purchase and consume fuel. To the extent that the periodic changes in the fair value of the derivatives are not effective, that ineffectiveness is classified as Nonoperating income (expense): Miscellaneous, net.

The Company also utilizes certain derivative instruments that are economic hedges but do not qualify for hedge accounting under U.S. GAAP. As with derivatives that qualify for hedge accounting, the purpose of these economic hedges is to mitigate the adverse financial impact of potential increases in the price of fuel. Currently, the only such economic hedges in the Company’s hedging portfolio are three-way collars (which consist of a collar with a cap on maximum price protection available). The Company records changes in the fair value of three-way collars to Nonoperating income (expense): Miscellaneous, net.

If the Company terminates a derivative prior to its contractual settlement date, then the cumulative gain or loss recognized in AOCI at the termination date remains in AOCI until the forecasted transaction occurs. In a situation where it becomes probable that a hedged forecasted transaction will not occur, any gains and/or losses that have been recorded to AOCI would be required to be immediately reclassified into earnings. All cash flows associated with purchasing and settling derivatives are classified as operating cash flows in the statements of cash flows.

 

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The Company records each derivative instrument as a derivative asset or liability (on a gross basis) in its consolidated balance sheets, and, accordingly, records any related collateral on a gross basis.

The following tables present information about the financial statement classification of the Company’s derivatives (in millions):

 

Classification

  

Balance Sheet Location

   March 31, 2013      December 31, 2012  

Derivatives designated as cash flow hedges

        

Assets:

        

Fuel contracts due within one year

   Receivables    $ 19       $ 7   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 

Liabilities:

        

Fuel contracts due within one year

   Current liabilities: Other    $ —         $ 2   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 

Derivatives not designated as hedges

        

Assets:

        

Fuel contracts due within one year

   Receivables    $ 51       $ 44   
Fuel contracts with maturities greater than one year    Other assets: Other, net      3         —     
     

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total assets

      $ 54       $ 44   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 

Liabilities:

        

Fuel contracts due within one year

   Current liabilities: Other    $ —         $ 2   
Fuel contracts with maturities greater than one year    Other liabilities and deferred credits: Other      —           1   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total liabilities

      $ —         $ 3   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total derivatives

        

Assets:

        

Fuel contracts due within one year

   Receivables    $ 70       $ 51   
Fuel contracts with maturities greater than one year    Other assets: Other, net      3         —     
     

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total assets

      $ 73       $ 51   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 

Liabilities:

        

Fuel contracts due within one year

   Current liabilities: Other    $ —         $ 4   
Fuel contracts with maturities greater than one year    Other liabilities and deferred credits: Other      —           1   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total liabilities

      $ —         $ 5   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 

The following tables present the impact of derivative instruments and their location within the Company’s unaudited Statements of Consolidated Operations (in millions):

Derivatives designated as cash flow hedges

 

Fuel contracts

   Amount of Gain (Loss)
Recognized

in AOCI on Derivatives
(Effective portion)
     Loss Reclassified from
AOCI into Fuel Expense
    Amount of Gain
Recognized in Nonoperating
income (expense):
Miscellaneous, net
(Ineffective Portion)
 
     Three Months Ended
March 31,
     Three Months Ended
March 31,
    Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
     2013     2012      2013     2012     2013      2012  
   $ (9   $ 93       $ (9   $ (31   $           —         $ 25   

Derivatives not designated as hedges

 

Fuel contracts

             
     Three Months Ended March 31,  
     2013      2012  
Amount of gain recognized in Nonoperating income (expense):      
Miscellaneous, net    $ 50       $ —     

 

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Derivative Credit Risk and Fair Value

The Company is exposed to credit losses in the event of nonperformance by counterparties to its derivative instruments. While the Company records derivative instruments on a gross basis, the Company monitors its net derivative position with each counterparty to monitor credit risk. Based on the fair value of our fuel derivative instruments, our counterparties may require us to post collateral when the price of the underlying commodity decreases, and we may require our counterparties to provide us with collateral when the price of the underlying commodity increases. The following table presents information related to the Company’s derivative credit risk as of March 31, 2013 (in millions):

 

Net derivative asset with counterparties

   $ 73   

Collateral held by the Company (a)

     —     

Potential loss related to the failure of the Company’s counterparties to perform

     73   

 

  (a) Classified as an other current liability.

NOTE 8—COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Commitments. As of March 31, 2013, UAL and United had the following commitments to purchase aircraft:

UAL Aircraft Commitments. UAL had firm commitments to purchase 100 new Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft scheduled for delivery from 2018 through 2022. UAL also had options to purchase an additional 100 Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft. UAL had the right, and intends in the future, to assign its interest under the purchase agreement for the 737 MAX 9 aircraft to United.

United Aircraft Commitments. United had firm commitments to purchase 149 new aircraft (49 Boeing 787 aircraft, 75 Boeing 737 aircraft and 25 Airbus A350XWB aircraft) scheduled for delivery from April 1, 2013 through 2020. United also had options and purchase rights for additional aircraft. In the first quarter of 2013, United took delivery of six Boeing 737-900ER. In the remainder of 2013, United expects to take delivery of 18 Boeing 737-900ER aircraft and two Boeing 787-8 aircraft.

United had arranged for EETC financing of 14 Boeing 737-900ER aircraft, six of which were delivered during the first quarter of 2013 and eight scheduled to be delivered during the remainder of 2013. United also has arranged for EETC financing of one Boeing 787-8 aircraft scheduled for delivery in the second half of 2013. In addition, United had secured backstop financing commitments from its widebody aircraft and engine manufacturers for a limited number of its future aircraft deliveries, subject to certain customary conditions. See Note 9 of this report for additional information. However, the Company does not have backstop financing or any financing currently in place for its other firm narrowbody or other aircraft orders with Boeing. Financing will be necessary to satisfy the Company’s capital commitments for its firm order aircraft and other related capital expenditures. The Company can provide no assurance that any financing not already in place for aircraft and spare engine deliveries will be available to the Company on acceptable terms when necessary or at all.

The table below summarizes the Company’s capital commitments as of March 31, 2013, which primarily relate to the acquisition of aircraft and related spare engines, aircraft improvements and acquisition of information technology services and assets:

 

(In billions)  

2013

   $ 1.6   

2014

     1.9   

2015

     1.9   

2016

     3.0   

2017

     2.5   

After 2017

     6.8   
  

 

 

 
   $ 17.7   
  

 

 

 

Any incremental firm aircraft orders, including through the exercise of purchase options, will increase the total future capital commitments of the Company.

Guarantees and Off-Balance Sheet Financing.

Guarantees. United is the guarantor of approximately $1.9 billion, in aggregate principal amount of tax-exempt special facilities revenue bonds and interest thereon. These bonds, issued by various airport municipalities, are payable solely from rentals paid under long-term agreements with the respective governing bodies. The leasing arrangements associated with $1.7 billion of these obligations are accounted for as operating leases with the associated expense recorded on a straight-line basis resulting in ratable accrual of the lease obligation over the expected lease term. The leasing arrangements associated with $190 million of these obligations are accounted for as capital leases. All these bonds are due between 2015 and 2038.

 

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In the Company’s financing transactions that include loans, the Company typically agrees to reimburse lenders for any reduced returns with respect to the loans due to any change in capital requirements and, in the case of loans in which the interest rate is based on the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”), for certain other increased costs that the lenders incur in carrying these loans as a result of any change in law, subject in most cases to obligations of the lenders to take certain limited steps to mitigate the requirement for, or the amount of, such increased costs. At March 31, 2013, the Company had $2.1 billion of floating rate debt and $327 million of fixed rate debt, with remaining terms of up to nine years, that are subject to these increased cost provisions. In several financing transactions involving loans or leases from non-U.S. entities, with remaining terms of up to eight years and an aggregate balance of $2.4 billion, the Company bears the risk of any change in tax laws that would subject loan or lease payments thereunder to non-U.S. entities to withholding taxes, subject to customary exclusions.

Credit Facilities. On March 27, 2013, United and UAL entered into a new Credit and Guaranty Agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) as the borrower and guarantor, respectively, that provides United with a $1.0 billion revolving credit facility. As of March 31, 2013, United had its entire capacity of $1.0 billion available under the revolving credit facility. See Note 9 of this report for more information.

Labor Negotiations. As of March 31, 2013, United had approximately 88,000 active employees, of whom approximately 80% were represented by various labor organizations.

In February 2013, United reached tentative agreements on new joint collective bargaining agreements with the International Association of Machinists (“IAM”) for its fleet service, passenger service and storekeeper workgroups. These tentative agreements were not ratified by the IAM members and, as a result, United and the IAM-represented workgroups will be returning to collective bargaining agreement negotiations. Having reached a ratified joint collective bargaining agreement with our pilots represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, International, we are currently in the process of negotiating joint collective bargaining agreements with our other major work groups, including technicians, flight attendants and dispatchers.

NOTE 9—DEBT

As of March 31, 2013, a substantial portion of our assets are pledged as collateral for our debt. These assets principally consist of aircraft, route authorities and loyalty program intangible assets. As of March 31, 2013, the Company was in compliance with its debt covenants.

2013 Credit and Guaranty Agreement. On March 27, 2013, United and UAL entered into the Credit Agreement as the borrower and guarantor, respectively. The Credit Agreement consists of a $900 million term loan due April 1, 2019 and a $1.0 billion revolving credit facility available for drawing until April 1, 2018. As of March 31, 2013, United had its entire capacity of $1.0 billion available under the revolving credit facility. The obligations of United under the Credit Agreement are secured by liens on certain international route authorities between certain specified cities, certain take-off and landing rights and related assets of United.

Borrowings under the Credit Agreement bear interest at a variable rate equal to LIBOR, subject to a 1% floor, plus a margin of 3.0% per annum, or another rate based on certain market interest rates, plus a margin of 2.0% per annum. The principal amount of the term loan must be repaid in consecutive quarterly installments of 0.25% of the original principal amount thereof, commencing on June 30, 2013, with any unpaid balance due on April 1, 2019. United may prepay all or a portion of the loan from time to time, at par plus accrued and unpaid interest. United pays a commitment fee equal to 0.75% per-annum on the undrawn amount available under the Revolving Credit Facility (as defined below).

The Credit Agreement includes covenants that, among other things, require the Company to maintain at least $3.0 billion of unrestricted liquidity and a minimum ratio of appraised value of collateral to the outstanding obligations under the Credit Agreement of 1.67 to 1.0 and restrict the Company’s ability to incur additional indebtedness, issue preferred stock, make investments or pay dividends. The Credit Agreement contains events of default customary for this type of financing, including a cross default and cross acceleration provision to certain other material indebtedness of the Company.

United Amended Credit Facility. On March 27, 2013, the Company used $900 million from the Credit Agreement, together with approximately $300 million of cash to retire the entire principal balance of a $1.2 billion term loan due 2014 that was outstanding under United’s Amended and Restated Revolving Credit, Term Loan and Guaranty Agreement, dated as of February 2, 2007 (the “Amended Credit Facility”). The Amended Credit Facility was terminated concurrently with the repayment of the term loan.

Revolving Credit Facility. On March 27, 2013, the Company terminated the $500 million revolving credit facility (the “Revolving Credit Facility”). There were no outstanding borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility.

 

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Debt Redemptions. On February 1, 2013, United redeemed all of the $400 million aggregate principal amount of its 9.875% Senior Secured Notes due 2013 and $200 million aggregate principal amount of 12.0% Senior Second Lien Notes due 2013. On February 8, 2013, United redeemed all $123 million aggregate principal amount of the B tranche of the 2006-1 EETC equipment notes due 2013. On April 1, 2013, United redeemed all of the $180 million aggregate principal amount of the senior tranche of the 2006-1 EETC equipment notes due 2013. These notes were all redeemed prior to their scheduled maturity date.

EETCs. In October 2012, United created two pass-through trusts, one of which issued $712 million aggregate principal amount of Class A pass-through certificates with a stated interest rate of 4% and the second of which issued $132 million aggregate principal amount of Class B pass-through certificates with a stated interest rate of 5.5%. The proceeds of the issuance of the Class A and Class B pass-through certificates, which amounted to $844 million, are used to purchase equipment notes issued by United. Of the $844 million in proceeds raised by the pass-through trusts, United received $494 million as of March 31, 2013, of which $201 million was received in the first quarter of 2013. United expects to receive the remaining proceeds from the issuance through the second half of 2013 as aircraft are delivered and United issues equipment notes to the trusts. The Company records the debt obligation upon issuance of the equipment notes rather than upon the initial issuance of the pass-through certificates. The proceeds have been and are expected to be used to fund the acquisition of new aircraft.

In December 2012, United created one pass-through trust which issued $425 million aggregate principal amount of Class C pass-through certificates with a stated interest rate of 6.125%. The proceeds of the issuance of the Class C pass-through certificates are used to purchase equipment notes issued by United related to the aircraft financed in both the March and October 2012 EETC financings. Of the $425 million in proceeds raised by the pass-through trusts, United received $331 million as of March 31, 2013, of which $54 million was received in the first quarter of 2013. United expects to receive the remaining proceeds from the issuance through the second half of 2013 as aircraft are delivered and United issues equipment notes to the trusts. The Company records the debt obligation upon issuance of the equipment notes rather than upon the initial issuance of the pass-through certificates.

The table below presents contractual principal payments at March 31, 2013 under then-outstanding long-term debt agreements in each of the next five calendar years (in millions):

 

     UAL      United  

Last nine months of 2013

   $ 859       $ 859   

2014

     958         958   

2015

     2,044         2,044   

2016

     1,003         1,003   

2017

     566         566   

After 2017

     5,985         5,640   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $ 11,415       $ 11,070   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

NOTE 10—SPECIAL ITEMS

Special Charges. For the three months ended March 31, special charges consisted of the following (in millions):

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
     2013     2012  

Merger integration-related costs

   $ 70      $ 134   

Voluntary severance and benefits

     14        49   

Charges for temporarily grounded 787 aircraft

     11        —     

Gains on sale of assets and other special items, net

     (3     (19
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Subtotal special charges

     92        164   

Income tax benefit

     —          (2
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total special charges, net of income taxes

   $ 92      $ 162   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Merger integration-related costs include compensation costs related to systems integration and training, costs to repaint aircraft and other branding activities, new uniforms, costs to write-off or accelerate depreciation on systems and facilities that are no longer used or planned to be used for significantly shorter periods, relocation costs for employees and severance primarily associated with administrative headcount reductions.

 

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During the three months ended March 31, 2013, the Company recorded $14 million associated with a voluntary program offered by United in which flight attendants took an unpaid 13-month leave of absence. The flight attendants continue to receive medical benefits and other company benefits while on leave under this program. Approximately 1,300 flight attendants opted to participate in the program. In addition, the Company recorded $11 million associated with the temporary grounding of its Boeing 787 aircraft. The charges are comprised of aircraft depreciation expense and dedicated personnel costs that the Company continues to incur while the aircraft are grounded. Also, the Company recorded a $5 million gain related to a contract termination and $2 million in losses on the sale of assets.

During the three months ended March 31, 2012, the Company recorded $49 million of severance and benefits associated with two voluntary employee programs. In one program, approximately 400 mechanics offered to retire early in exchange for a cash severance payment that was based on the number of years of service each employee had accumulated. The other program is a voluntary Company-offered leave of absence that approximately 1,800 flight attendants accepted, which allows for continued medical coverage during the leave of absence period.

In March 2013, the Company agreed to sell up to 30 Boeing 757-200 aircraft to FedEx Corporation beginning in April of 2013. As of December 31, 2012, the Company operated 133 such aircraft. Given the planned sale of up to 30 of these aircraft, the Company evaluated the entire fleet and determined that no impairment existed. However, the Company adjusted the salvage value of the aircraft designated for sale to its sales price and will record additional depreciation from the agreement date to the date of sale. This additional depreciation is not classified as special. The additional depreciation in the first quarter of 2013 totaled $12 million and approximately $80 million for the full year 2013.

Accruals

The accrual for severance and medical costs was $62 million as of March 31, 2013. In addition, the accrual balance of future lease payments on permanently grounded aircraft was $5 million as of March 31, 2013.

The severance-related accrual as of March 31, 2013, which primarily relates to the Merger, is expected to be paid through 2014. Lease payments for grounded aircraft are expected to continue through 2013.

At March 31, 2012, the accrual balance for severance and medical costs was $90 million. In addition, the accrual balance of future lease payments on permanently grounded aircraft was $23 million as of March 31, 2012.

NOTE 11—ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

The tables below present the components of the Company’s AOCI, net of tax (in millions):

 

UAL    Pension and
Other
Postretirement
Unrecognized
Actuarial
Gains
(Losses) and
Prior Service
Cost
    Unrealized
Gain
(Loss)
on
Derivatives
    Other     Total  

Balance at December 31, 2012

   $ (1,042   $ (10   $ 6      $ (1,046

Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications

     —          (9     (2     (11

Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income

     21        9        —          30   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss)

     21        —          (2     19   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance at March 31, 2013

   $ (1,021   $ (10   $ 4      $ (1,027
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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UAL   Pension and
Other
Postretirement
Unrecognized
Actuarial

Gains (Losses)
and Prior Service
Cost
    Unrealized
Gain (Loss)
on
Derivatives
    Other     Total  

Balance at December 31, 2011

  $ (312   $ (99   $ (6   $ (417

Other comprehensive income before reclassifications

    —          93        9        102   

Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income

    4        31        —          35   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net current-period other comprehensive income

    4        124        9        137   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance at March 31, 2012

  $ (308   $ 25      $ 3      $ (280
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

United   Pension and
Other
Postretirement
Unrecognized
Actuarial

Gains (Losses)
and Prior Service
Cost
    Unrealized
Gain (Loss)
on
Derivatives
    Other     Income Tax
Benefit
(Expense)
    Total  

Balance at December 31, 2012

  $ (1,042   $ (10   $ 5      $ (6   $ (1,053

Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications

    —          (9     (1     —          (10

Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income

    21        9        —          6        36   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss)

    21        —          (1     6        26   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance at March 31, 2013

  $ (1,021   $ (10   $ 4      $ —        $ (1,027
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

United   Pension and
Other
Postretirement
Unrecognized
Actuarial

Gains (Losses)
and Prior Service
Cost
    Unrealized
Gain (Loss)
on
Derivatives
    Other     Income Tax
Expense
    Total  

Balance at December 31, 2011

  $ (312   $ (99   $ (8   $ (6   $ (425

Other comprehensive income before reclassifications

    —          93        10        —          103   

Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income

    4        31        —          —          35   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net current-period other comprehensive income

    4        124        10        —          138   

Balance at March 31, 2012

  $ (308   $ 25      $ 2      $ (6   $ (287

 

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UAL

 

Details about AOCI Components

  Amount Reclassified from
AOCI to Income (a)
          Affected Line Item in the
Statement Where Net Income  is
Presented
    Three Months Ended
March 31,
           
    2013     2012            

Derivatives designated as cash flow hedges

       

Fuel contracts-reclassifications of losses into earnings

  $ 9      $ 31        Aircraft fuel

Amortization of pension and post-retirement items

       

Amortization of unrecognized loss and prior service cost

    21        4        (b   Salaries and related costs

 

(a) Income tax expense offset by Company’s valuation allowance.
(b) This accumulated other comprehensive income component is included in the computation of net periodic pension costs (see Note 5 of this report for additional details.)

United

 

Details about AOCI Components

  Amount Reclassified from
AOCI to Income
          Affected Line Item in  the
Statement Where Net Income
is Presented
    Three Months Ended
March 31,
           
    2013     2012            

Derivatives designated as cash flow hedges

       

Fuel contracts-reclassifications of losses into earnings (a)

  $ 9      $ 31        Aircraft fuel

Amortization of pension and post-retirement items

       

Amortization of unrecognized loss and prior service cost (a)

    21        4        (b   Salaries and related costs

Income tax expense on other comprehensive income

    6        —          Income tax expense (benefit)

 

(a) Income tax expense offset by Company’s valuation allowance.
(b) This accumulated other comprehensive income component is included in the computation of net periodic pension costs (see Note 5 of this report for additional details.)

 

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Table of Contents
ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.

Overview

United Continental Holdings, Inc. (together with its consolidated subsidiaries, “UAL” or the “Company”) is a holding company and its principal, wholly-owned subsidiary is United Airlines, Inc. (together with its consolidated subsidiaries, “United”). This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q is a combined report of UAL and United including their respective consolidated financial statements. As UAL consolidates United for financial statement purposes, disclosures that relate to activities of United also apply to UAL, unless otherwise noted. United’s operating revenues and operating expenses comprise nearly 100% of UAL’s revenues and operating expenses. In addition, United comprises approximately the entire balance of UAL’s assets, liabilities and operating cash flows. When appropriate, UAL and United are named specifically for their individual contractual obligations and related disclosures and any significant differences between the operations and results of UAL and United are separately disclosed and explained. We sometimes use the words “we,” “our,” “us,” and the “Company” in this report for disclosures that relate to all of UAL and United.

On May 2, 2010, UAL Corporation, Continental Airlines, Inc. (together with its consolidated subsidiaries, “Continental”) and JT Merger Sub Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of UAL Corporation, entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger. On October 1, 2010, JT Merger Sub Inc. merged with and into Continental, with Continental surviving as a wholly-owned subsidiary of UAL Corporation (the “Merger”). Upon closing of the Merger, UAL Corporation became the parent company of both United Air Lines, Inc. and Continental and UAL Corporation’s name was changed to United Continental Holdings, Inc. On March 31, 2013, the Company merged United Air Lines, Inc. with and into Continental to form one legal entity, and Continental’s name was changed to United Airlines, Inc. The financial statements of United Air Lines, Inc. and Continental are now combined at their historical cost for all periods presented.

The Company transports people and cargo through its mainline operations, which utilize jet aircraft with at least 108 seats, and regional operations, which utilize smaller aircraft that are operated under contract by United Express carriers. The Company serves virtually every major market around the world, either directly or through participation in Star Alliance®, the world’s largest airline alliance. The Company offers approximately 5,500 daily departures to 381 destinations.

First Quarter Financial Highlights

 

  First quarter 2013 net loss was $325 million, or $0.98 diluted loss per share, excluding $92 million of special charges. Including special charges, first quarter 2013 net loss was $417 million, or $1.26 diluted loss per share.

 

  Passenger revenue increased 0.7%, to $7.6 billion, during the first quarter of 2013 as compared to the first quarter of 2012.

 

  First quarter 2013 aircraft fuel cost decreased 5.5% year-over-year.

 

  Unrestricted liquidity was $6.4 billion, including $1.0 billion of undrawn commitments.

First Quarter Operational Highlights

 

  For the quarter ended March 31, 2013, United recorded a U.S. Department of Transportation on-time arrival rate of 81.4% and a system completion factor of 98.7%.

 

  Consolidated traffic and capacity decreased 1.2% and 4.9%, respectively, during the first quarter of 2013 as compared to the first quarter of 2012. The Company’s load factor for the first quarter of 2013 was 81.1%.

 

  The Company took delivery of six new Boeing 737-900ER aircraft during the first quarter of 2013.

Outlook

In order to generate sustained profitability over the business cycle, the Company manages its capacity to balance with expected demand for travel. For the first three months of 2013, consolidated capacity decreased 4.9% compared to the three months ended March 31, 2012. The Company expects full-year 2013 consolidated capacity to decrease 0.75% to 1.75% year-over-year, with full-year 2013 domestic capacity to decrease 0.9% to 1.9% and full-year 2013 international capacity to decrease 0.6% to 1.6%. The Company expects full year 2013 cost per available seat mile (“CASM”) excluding profit sharing, third-party business expense, fuel and special charges to increase 5.5% to 6.5% year-over-year.

On April 16, 2013, the Federal Aviation Administration (“FAA”) announced a capacity reduction plan as its means for complying with its sequester obligations under the Budget Control Act of 2011, which includes the implementation of furloughs of air traffic controllers uniformly across air traffic facilities that began on April 21, 2013. At the time of its announcement, the FAA projected approximately 6,700 flights per day could be delayed because of anticipated FAA understaffing and associated air traffic control disruptions at many major U.S. airports where the Company operates, including the Company’s continental U.S. hubs at Chicago O’Hare International Airport, Newark Liberty International Airport and Los Angeles International Airport. To date, flight delays have not been as numerous as the FAA projected, although they have been significant and may increase. Any potential impact on the Company’s operations from the FAA’s capacity reduction plan, including furloughs of air traffic controllers, is not included in the Company’s second quarter or full year outlook and such plan may impact the Company’s capacity, operating revenue and operating expense going forward.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The following discussion provides an analysis of results of operations and reasons for material changes therein for the three months ended March 31, 2013 as compared to the corresponding periods in 2012.

 

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First Quarter 2013 Compared to First Quarter 2012

The Company recorded net loss of $417 million in the first quarter of 2013 as compared to net loss of $448 million in the first quarter of 2012. Excluding special items, the Company had net loss of $325 million in the first quarter of 2013 as compared to net loss of $286 million in the first quarter of 2012. See “Reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP Financial Measures” at the end of this item for additional information related to non-GAAP financial measures. We consider a key measure of our performance to be operating income, which was a loss of $264 million for the first quarter of 2013, as compared to an operating loss of $271 million for the first quarter of 2012. Significant components of our operating results for the three months ended March 31 are as follows (in millions, except percentage changes):

 

     2013     2012     Increase
(Decrease)
    % Increase
(Decrease)
 

Operating Revenue

   $ 8,721      $ 8,602      $ 119        1.4   

Operating Expenses

     8,985        8,873        112        1.3   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

Operating Loss

     (264     (271     (7     (2.6

Nonoperating Expense

     (162     (176     (14     (8.0

Income Tax Expense (Benefit)

     (9     1        (10     NM   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

Net Loss

   $ (417   $ (448   $ (31     (6.9
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

NM —Not meaningful

Certain consolidated statistical information for the Company’s operations for the three months ended March 31 are as follows:

 

     2013     2012     Increase
(Decrease)
    %  Increase
(Decrease)
 

Passengers (thousands) (a)

     32,355        32,527        (172     (0.5

Revenue passenger miles (“RPMs”) (millions) (b)

     46,544        47,107        (563     (1.2

Available seat miles (“ASMs”) (millions) (c)

     57,372        60,344        (2,972)        (4.9)   

Passenger load factor (d)

     81.1     78.1     3.0  pts.      N/A   

Passenger revenue per available seat mile (“PRASM”) (cents)

     13.18        12.44        0.74        5.9   

Average yield per revenue passenger mile (cents) (e)

     16.24        15.94        0.30        1.9   

CASM (cents)

     15.66        14.70        0.96        6.5   

Average price per gallon of fuel, including fuel taxes

   $ 3.30      $ 3.34      $ (0.04     (1.2

Fuel gallons consumed (millions)

     924        967        (43)        (4.4)   

Average full-time equivalent employees

     84,300        83,700        600        0.7   

 

(a) The number of revenue passengers measured by each flight segment flown.
(b) The number of scheduled miles flown by revenue passengers.
(c) The number of seats available for passengers multiplied by the number of scheduled miles those seats are flown.
(d) Revenue passenger miles divided by available seat miles.
(e) The average passenger revenue received for each revenue passenger mile flown.

 

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Table of Contents

Operating Revenue

The table below shows year-over-year comparisons by type of operating revenue for the three months ended March 31 (in millions, except for percentage changes):

 

     2013      2012      Increase
(Decrease)
    % Change  

Passenger—Mainline

   $ 5,938       $ 5,954       $ (16     (0.3

Passenger—Regional

     1,621         1,554         67        4.3   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

Total passenger revenue

     7,559         7,508         51        0.7   

Cargo

     227         264         (37     (14.0

Other operating revenue

     935         830         105        12.7   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   
   $ 8,721       $ 8,602       $ 119        1.4   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

The table below presents selected passenger revenue and operating data, broken out by geographic region, expressed as first quarter year-over-year changes:

 

     Domestic     Pacific     Atlantic     Latin     Total
Mainline
    Regional     Consolidated  

Increase (decrease) from 2012 (a):

              

Passenger revenue (in millions)

   $ (31   $ 44      $ (4   $ (25   $ (16   $ 67      $ 51   

Passenger revenue

     (1.1 )%      4.0     (0.3 )%      (3.4 )%      (0.3 )%      4.3     0.7

Average fare per passenger

     1.7     (1.3 )%      4.7     (3.6 )%      1.7     1.8     1.2

Yield

     1.1     0.7     6.9     (5.6 )%      1.3     2.9     1.9

PRASM

     3.6     7.2     11.0     (2.6 )%      5.0     8.8     5.9

Average stage length

     1.1     (0.4 )%      (2.0 )%      3.8     0.4     (0.9 )%      (0.2 )% 

Passengers

     (2.7 )%      5.3     (4.8 )%      0.2     (2.0 )%      2.4     (0.5 )% 

RPMs (traffic)

     (2.1 )%      3.3     (6.8 )%      2.3     (1.6 )%      1.4     (1.2 )% 

ASMs (capacity)

     (4.5 )%      (3.0 )%      (10.2 )%      (0.8 )%      (5.0 )%      (4.1 )%      (4.9 )% 

Passenger load factor (points)

     2.0        5.1        2.8        2.5        2.9        4.3        3.0   

 

(a) See Item 6 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012 for the definition of these statistics.

Consolidated passenger revenue in the first quarter of 2013 increased 0.7% as compared to the year-ago period due to an increase in the consolidated average fare per passenger and yield of 1.2% and 1.9%, respectively, offset by a significant reduction in capacity and a slight decline in the number of passengers flown year-over-year.

Cargo revenue decreased $37 million, or 14.0%, in the first quarter of 2013 as compared to the year-ago period due to lower volumes on freight across all regions except Latin America.

Other operating revenue in the first quarter of 2013 increased $105 million, or 12.7%, as compared to the year-ago period due to the sale of aircraft fuel to a third party.

 

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Operating Expenses

The table below includes data related to the Company’s operating expenses for the three months ended March 31 (in millions, except for percentage changes):

 

     2013      2012      Increase
(Decrease)
    % Change  

Aircraft fuel

   $ 3,050       $ 3,229       $ (179     (5.5

Salaries and related costs

     2,127         1,897         230        12.1   

Regional capacity purchase

     588         616         (28     (4.5

Landing fees and other rent

     497         469         28        6.0   

Aircraft maintenance materials and outside repairs

     438         407         31        7.6   

Depreciation and amortization

     408         380         28        7.4   

Distribution expenses

     328         337         (9     (2.7

Aircraft rent

     240         251         (11     (4.4

Special charges

     92         164         (72     NM   

Other operating expenses

     1,217         1,123         94        8.4   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   
   $ 8,985       $ 8,873       $ 112        1.3   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

Aircraft fuel expense decreased $179 million, or 5.5%, year-over-year due primarily to a 4.4% decrease in fuel consumption in the first quarter of 2013 as a result of reduced capacity. The table below presents the significant changes in aircraft fuel cost per gallon in the three month period ended March 31, 2013 as compared to the year-ago period:

 

     (In millions)           Average price per gallon  
     2013     2012     % Change     2013     2012     % Change  

Total aircraft fuel purchase cost excluding fuel hedge impacts

   $ 3,041      $ 3,198        (4.9   $ 3.29      $ 3.31        (0.6

Hedge losses reported in fuel expense

     (9     (31     NM        (0.01     (0.03     NM   
  

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Fuel expense as reported

     3,050        3,229        (5.5     3.30        3.34        (1.2

Settled hedge gains not recorded in fuel expense (a)

     17        —          NM        0.02        —          NM   
  

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Fuel expense including all gains (losses) from settled hedges (b)

   $ 3,033      $ 3,229        (6.1   $ 3.28      $ 3.34        (1.8
  

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total fuel consumption (gallons)

     924        967        (4.4      

 

(a) Includes ineffectiveness gains (losses) on settled hedges and gains (losses) on settled hedges that were not designated for hedge accounting. These amounts are recorded in Nonoperating income (expense): Miscellaneous, net.
(b) This figure does not include mark-to-market (“MTM”) gains. MTM gains were $34 million and $26 million for the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. The Company records MTM gains (losses) to Nonoperating income (expense): Miscellaneous, net.

Salaries and related costs increased $230 million, or 12.1%, in the first quarter of 2013 as compared to the year-ago period primarily due to higher pay rates driven by new joint collective bargaining agreements as well as increased pension plan costs.

Regional capacity purchase decreased $28 million, or 4.5%, year-over-year due primarily to fewer regional aircraft operating under capacity purchase agreements in the first quarter of 2013 as compared to the year-ago period.

Landing fees and other rent increased $28 million, or 6.0%, in the first quarter of 2013 as compared to the year-ago period primarily due to an airport rent credit that was received in the first quarter of 2012.

Aircraft maintenance materials and outside repairs increased $31 million, or 7.6%, in the first three months of 2013 as compared to the year-ago period due primarily to the acceleration of preventative maintenance work in preparation for the summer travel season, partially offset by a one-time credit from an engine contract renegotiation in the first quarter of 2013.

Depreciation and amortization increased $28 million, or 7.4%, in the first quarter of 2013 as compared to the year-ago period due to additions in owned property and equipment in the current year, specifically related to aircraft and improvements at airport facilities, in addition to accelerated depreciation on Boeing 757-200 aircraft being sold to a third party.

Other operating expenses increased $94 million, or 8.4%, in the first three months of 2013 as compared to the year-ago period primarily due to the sale of aircraft fuel to a third party.

 

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Details of the Company’s special charges include the following for the three months ended March 31 (in millions):

 

     2013     2012  

Merger integration-related costs

   $ 70      $ 134   

Voluntary severance and benefits

     14        49   

Charges for temporarily grounded 787 aircraft

     11        —     

Gains on sale of assets and other special items, net

     (3     (19
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Special charges

   $ 92      $ 164   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

See Note 10 to the financial statements included in Part I, Item 1 of this report.

Nonoperating Income (Expense). The following table illustrates the year-over-year dollar and percentage changes in the Company’s nonoperating income (expense) for the three months ended March 31 (in millions, except for percentage changes):

 

     2013     2012     Increase
(Decrease)
    % Change  

Interest expense

   $ (201   $ (216   $ (15     (6.9

Interest capitalized

     11        8        3        37.5   

Interest income

     5        5        —          —     

Miscellaneous, net

     23        27        (4     (14.8
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total

   $ (162   $ (176   $ (14     (8.0
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

Interest expense decreased $15 million, or 6.9%, in the first quarter of 2013, compared to the year-ago period primarily due to a decrease in debt outstanding during the first quarter of 2013 as compared to debt outstanding during the year-ago period.

During the first quarter of 2013, the fuel hedge ineffectiveness in miscellaneous, net was zero as compared to fuel hedge ineffectiveness gain of $25 million in the year ago period. First quarter 2013 miscellaneous, net also included gains of $50 million from derivatives not qualifying for hedge accounting which was offset by the write-off of deferred financing fees related to the prepayment of debt.

United’s nonoperating expense also includes net gains of $64 million and $14 million for the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively, associated with marking to market the fair value of derivative assets and liabilities related to agreements that provide for United’s convertible debt to be settled with UAL common stock. This net gain and related derivatives are reflected only in the United stand-alone financial statements as they are eliminated at the consolidated level. See Note 6 to the financial statements included in Part I, Item 1 of this report for additional information.

Income Taxes. Our effective tax rates are lower than the federal statutory rate of 35% primarily because of the impact of changes to existing valuation allowances. We continue to provide a valuation allowance for our deferred tax assets in excess of deferred tax liabilities because management has concluded that it is more likely than not that such deferred tax assets will ultimately not be realized. See Note 4 to the financial statements included in Part I, Item 1 of this report for information related to this matter.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Current Liquidity

As of March 31, 2013, the Company had $5.4 billion in unrestricted cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments, as compared to $6.5 billion at December 31, 2012. At March 31, 2013, the Company also had $435 million of restricted cash and cash equivalents, which is primarily collateral for performance bonds, letters of credit, estimated future workers’ compensation claims and credit card processing agreements. As of March 31, 2013, the Company had its entire commitment capacity of $1 billion under the Revolving Credit Agreement available for letters of credit or borrowings.

As is the case with many of our principal competitors, we have a high proportion of debt compared to capital. We have a significant amount of fixed obligations, including debt, aircraft leases and financings, leases of airport property and other facilities, and pension funding obligations. At March 31, 2013, the Company had approximately $12.1 billion of debt and capital lease obligations, including $1.2 billion that will become due in the next 12 months. In addition, we have substantial non-cancelable commitments for capital expenditures, including the acquisition of new aircraft and related spare engines.

 

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The Company will continue to evaluate opportunities to repurchase its debt in open market transactions to reduce its indebtedness and the amount of interest paid on its indebtedness.

As of March 31, 2013, UAL had firm commitments to purchase 100 new Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft scheduled for delivery from 2018 through 2022. UAL also had options to purchase an additional 100 Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft. UAL had the right, and intends in the future, to assign its interest under the purchase agreement for the 737 MAX 9 aircraft to United.

As of March 31, 2013, United had firm commitments to purchase 149 new aircraft (49 Boeing 787 aircraft, 75 Boeing 737 aircraft and 25 Airbus A350XWB aircraft) scheduled for delivery from April 1, 2013 through 2020. United also had options and purchase rights for additional aircraft. In the first quarter of 2013, United took delivery of six Boeing 737-900ER. In the remainder of 2013, United expects to take delivery of 18 Boeing 737-900ER aircraft and two Boeing 787-8 aircraft.

United had arranged for EETC financing of 14 Boeing 737-900ER aircraft, six of which were delivered during the first quarter of 2013 and eight scheduled to be delivered during the remainder of 2013. United also has arranged for EETC financing of one Boeing 787-8 aircraft scheduled for delivery in the second half of 2013. In addition, United had secured backstop financing commitments from its widebody aircraft and engine manufacturers for a limited number of its future aircraft deliveries, subject to certain customary conditions. See Note 9 to the financial statements included in Part I, Item 1 of this report for additional information. However, the Company does not have backstop financing or any financing currently in place for its other firm narrowbody or other aircraft orders with Boeing. Financing will be necessary to satisfy the Company’s capital commitments for its firm order aircraft and other related capital expenditures. The Company can provide no assurance that any financing not already in place for aircraft and spare engine deliveries will be available to the Company on acceptable terms when necessary or at all.

As of March 31, 2013, the Company has total capital commitments primarily related to aircraft and related spare engines, aircraft improvements and acquisition of information technology services and assets of approximately $17.7 billion, of which approximately $1.6 billion, $1.9 billion, $1.9 billion, $3.0 billion, $2.5 billion and $6.8 billion are due in the last nine months of 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and thereafter, respectively.

Any incremental firm aircraft orders, including through the exercise of purchase options, will increase the total future capital commitments of the Company.

As of March 31, 2013, a substantial portion of the Company’s assets, principally aircraft, route authorities and certain other intangible assets, were pledged under various loan and other agreements. We must sustain our profitability and/or access the capital markets to meet our significant long-term debt and capital lease obligations and future commitments for capital expenditures, including the acquisition of aircraft and related spare engines.

Credit Ratings. As of the filing date of this Form 10-Q, UAL and United had the following corporate credit ratings:

 

     S&P    Moody’s    Fitch

UAL

   B    B2    B

United

   B    *    B

 

* The credit agency does not issue corporate credit ratings for subsidiary entities.

These credit ratings are below investment grade levels. Downgrades from these rating levels, among other things, could restrict the availability, or increase the cost of future financing for the Company.

Sources and Uses of Cash

Operating Activities. Cash flow provided by operations for the three months ended March 31, 2013 was $393 million compared to $124 million in the same period in 2012. The increase is attributable to an increase in advanced ticket sales and lower profit sharing year-over-year and the cash flow impact of other working capital items.

Investing Activities. Capital expenditures, including aircraft purchase deposits, were $375 million and $301 million in the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Capital expenditures for the three months ended March 31, 2013 were primarily attributable to the purchase of aircraft off lease, other fleet-related costs and certain other information technology projects.

In addition to capital expenditures during the three months ended March 31, 2013, we acquired six aircraft through the issuance of debt, as discussed under Financing Activities below.

 

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The purchase of short-term investments decreased to $77 million in the three months ended March 31, 2013 from $148 million in the three months ended March 31, 2012.

Financing Activities. During the three months ended March 31, 2013, the Company made debt and capital lease payments of $1.3 billion.

On March 27, 2013, United and UAL entered into a new Credit and Guaranty Agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) as the borrower and guarantor, respectively. The Credit Agreement consists of a $900 million term loan due April 1, 2019 and a $1.0 billion revolving credit facility available for drawing until April 1, 2018. As of March 31, 2013, United has its entire capacity of $1.0 billion available under the revolving credit facility. The obligations of United under the Credit Agreement are secured by liens on certain international route authorities between certain specified cities, certain take-off and landing rights and related assets of United.

Borrowings under the Credit Agreement bear interest at a variable rate equal to LIBOR, subject to a 1% floor, plus a margin of 3.0% per annum, or another rate based on certain market interest rates, plus a margin of 2.0% per annum. The principal amount of the term loan must be repaid in consecutive quarterly installments of 0.25% of the original principal amount thereof, commencing on June 30, 2013, with any unpaid balance due on April 1, 2019. United may prepay all or a portion of the loan from time to time, at par plus accrued and unpaid interest. The revolving credit facility is subject to a 0.75% per-annum commitment fee on the undrawn portion. The covenants in the Credit Agreement are substantially similar to the Revolving Credit Facility (as defined below) as summarized in Note 14 of the Company’s 2012 Annual Report. Under the provisions of the Credit Agreement, UAL’s ability to pay dividends on or repurchase UAL’s common stock is restricted. UAL may undertake $1.5 billion in stockholder dividends or other distributions without any additional prepayment of the Credit Agreement based on the Company’s financial results as of March 31, 2013, provided that all covenants within the Credit Agreement are met. The Credit Agreement provides that UAL and United can carry out further stockholder dividends or other distributions in an amount equal to future term loan prepayments, provided the covenants are met.

On March 27, 2013, the Company used $900 million from the Credit Agreement, together with approximately $300 million of cash to retire the entire principal balance of a $1.2 billion term loan due 2014 that was outstanding under United’s Amended and Restated Revolving Credit, Term Loan and Guaranty Agreement, dated as of February 2, 2007 (the “Amended Credit Facility”). The Amended Credit Facility was terminated concurrently with the repayment of the term loan. The Company terminated the revolving credit facility (the “Revolving Credit Facility”) to borrow up to $500 million. There were no outstanding borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility.

On February 1, 2013, United redeemed all of the $400 million aggregate principal amount of its 9.875% Senior Secured Notes due 2013 and $200 million aggregate principal amount of 12.0% Senior Second Lien Notes due 2013. On February 8, 2013, United redeemed all $123 million aggregate principal amount of the B tranche of the 2006-1 EETC equipment notes due 2013. On April 1, 2013, United redeemed all of the $180 million aggregate principal amount of the senior tranche of the 2006-1 EETC equipment notes due 2013. These notes were all redeemed prior to their scheduled maturity date.

In October 2012, United created two pass-through trusts, one of which issued $712 million aggregate principal amount of Class A pass-through certificates with a stated interest rate of 4% and the second of which issued $132 million aggregate principal amount of Class B pass-through certificates with a stated interest rate of 5.5%. The proceeds of the issuance of the Class A and Class B pass-through certificates, which amounted to $844 million, are used to purchase equipment notes issued by United. Of the $844 million in proceeds raised by the pass-through trusts, United received $494 million as of March 31, 2013, of which $201 million was received in the first quarter of 2013. United expects to receive the remaining proceeds from the issuance through the second half of 2013 as aircraft are delivered and United issues equipment notes to the trusts. The Company records the debt obligation upon issuance of the equipment notes rather than upon the initial issuance of the pass-through certificates. The proceeds have been and are expected to be used to fund the acquisition of new aircraft.

In December 2012, United created one pass-through trust which issued $425 million aggregate principal amount of Class C pass-through certificates with a stated interest rate of 6.125%. The proceeds of the issuance of the Class C pass-through certificates are used to purchase equipment notes issued by United related to the aircraft financed in both the March and October 2012 EETC financings. Of the $425 million in proceeds raised by the pass-through trusts, United received $331 million as of March 31, 2013, of which $54 million was received in the first quarter of 2013. United expects to receive the remaining proceeds from the issuance through the second half of 2013 as aircraft are delivered and United issues equipment notes to the trusts. The Company records the debt obligation upon issuance of the equipment notes rather than upon the initial issuance of the pass-through certificates.

 

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The table below presents contractual principal payments at March 31, 2013 under then-outstanding long-term debt agreements in each of the next five calendar years (in millions):

 

     UAL      United  

Last nine months of 2013

   $ 859       $ 859   

2014

     958         958   

2015

     2,044         2,044   

2016

     1,003         1,003   

2017

     566         566   

After 2017

     5,985         5,640   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $ 11,415       $ 11,070   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Commitments, Contingencies and Liquidity Matters

As described in the 2012 Annual Report, the Company’s liquidity may be adversely impacted by a variety of factors, including, but not limited to, obligations associated with fuel hedge settlements and related collateral requirements, pension funding obligations, reserve requirements associated with credit card processing agreements, guarantees, commitments and contingencies. See the 2012 Annual Report and Notes 5, 7, 8 and 9 to the financial statements contained in Part I, Item 1 of this report for information related to these matters.

RECONCILIATION OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

The Company evaluates its financial performance utilizing various accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) and non-GAAP financial measures, including net income/loss and net income/loss per share. The non-GAAP financial measures in this report are presented because they provide management and investors the ability to measure and monitor the Company’s performance on a consistent basis. The Company believes that adjusting for special charges is useful to investors because they are non-recurring items not indicative of the Company’s on-going performance. A reconciliation of net loss and diluted loss per share to the non-GAAP financial measure of net loss and diluted loss per share, excluding special charges, for the three months ended March 31 is as follows (in millions, except per share amounts):

 

     Three Months Ended March 31,  
     Net Loss    

Diluted

Loss per
Share

    Net Loss     Diluted
Loss per
Share
 
     2013     2013     2012     2012  

Net loss — GAAP

   $ (417   $ (1.26   $ (448   $ (1.36

Special charges, net

     92        0.28        162        0.49   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss excluding special charges — non-GAAP

   $ (325   $ (0.98   $ (286   $ (0.87
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

See Critical Accounting Policies in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in the 2012 Annual Report for a discussion of the Company’s critical accounting policies. See Note 1 to the financial statements included in Part I, Item 1 of this report for a discussion of potential changes in accounting for revenue for the Company’s loyalty program.

FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

Certain statements throughout Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and elsewhere in this report are forward-looking and thus reflect our current expectations and beliefs with respect to certain current and future events and financial 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,” “forecast,” “guidance,” “outlook” 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 report are based upon information available to us on the date of this report. 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.

 

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The Company’s actual results could differ materially from these forward-looking statements due to numerous factors including, without limitation, the following: its ability to comply with the terms of its various financing arrangements; the costs and availability of financing; its ability to maintain adequate liquidity; its ability to execute its operational plans; its ability to control its costs, including realizing benefits from its resource optimization efforts, cost reduction initiatives and fleet replacement programs; its ability to utilize its net operating losses; its ability to attract and retain customers; demand for transportation in the markets in which it operates; an outbreak of a disease that affects travel demand or travel behavior; demand for travel and the impact that global economic conditions have on customer travel patterns; excessive taxation and the inability to offset future taxable income; general economic conditions (including interest rates, foreign currency exchange rates, investment or credit market conditions, crude oil prices, costs of aviation fuel and energy refining capacity in relevant markets); its ability to cost-effectively hedge against increases in the price of aviation fuel; any potential realized or unrealized gains or losses related to fuel or currency hedging programs; the effects of any hostilities, act of war or terrorist attack; the ability of other air carriers with whom the Company has alliances or partnerships to provide the services contemplated by the respective arrangements with such carriers; the costs and availability of aviation and other insurance; the costs associated with security measures and practices; industry consolidation or changes in airline alliances; competitive pressures on pricing and on demand; its capacity decisions and the capacity decisions of its competitors; U.S. or foreign governmental legislation, regulation and other actions (including open skies agreements, environmental regulations and FAA imposed furloughs on air traffic controllers); labor costs; its ability to maintain satisfactory labor relations and the results of the collective bargaining agreement process with its union groups; any disruptions to operations due to any potential actions by its labor groups; weather conditions; the possibility that expected merger synergies will not be realized or will not be realized within the expected time period; and other risks and uncertainties set forth under Item 1A., “Risk Factors” of the 2012 Annual Report and Part II, Item 1A., “Risk Factors” of this report, as well as other risks and uncertainties set forth from time to time in the reports the Company files with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).

 

ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK.

There have been no material changes in market risk from the information provided in Item 7A. “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk” in our 2012 Annual Report except as follows:

Aircraft Fuel. As of March 31, 2013, the Company had hedged approximately 32% and 11% of its projected fuel requirements (963 million and 428 million gallons, respectively) for 2013 and 2014, respectively, with commonly used financial hedge instruments based on aircraft fuel or closely related commodities, such as heating oil, diesel fuel and crude oil.

At March 31, 2013, fuel derivatives were in a net asset position of $73 million. See Note 7 to the financial statements included in Part I, Item 1 of this report for additional information related to fuel hedges.

Fuel derivative disclosures for the Company are omitted under the reduced disclosure format permitted by General Instruction H(2) of Form 10-Q.

 

ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.

The Company maintains controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports filed or submitted to the SEC is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified by the SEC’s rules and forms, and is accumulated and communicated to management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. The Company’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, performed an evaluation to conclude with reasonable assurance that UAL’s and United’s disclosure controls and procedures were designed and operating effectively to report the information each company is required to disclose in the reports they file with the SEC on a timely basis. Based on that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer of UAL and United have concluded that as of March 31, 2013, disclosure controls and procedures of each of UAL and United were effective.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting during the Quarter Ended March 31, 2013

During the three months ended March 31, 2013, there were no changes in UAL’s or United’s internal controls over financial reporting that materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, their internal controls over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934).

 

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PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.

See Part I, Item 3., “Legal Proceedings” of the 2012 Annual Report for a description of legal proceedings.

 

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS.

See Part I, Item 1A., “Risk Factors,” of the 2012 Annual Report for a detailed discussion of the risk factors affecting UAL and United. The disclosure below includes updates to certain risk factor disclosures included in the 2012 Annual Report, which are in addition to, and not in lieu of, those contained in the 2012 Annual Report.

The FAA’s capacity reduction plan, which includes furloughs for air traffic controllers, implemented under a sequestration procedure of the Budget Control Act of 2011, could materially adversely affect the Company’s business, results of operations and financial condition.

On April 16, 2013, the Federal Aviation Administration (“FAA”) announced a capacity reduction plan as its means for complying with its sequester obligations under the Budget Control Act of 2011, which includes the implementation of furloughs of air traffic controllers uniformly across air traffic facilities that began on April 21, 2013. At the time of its announcement, the FAA projected approximately 6,700 delayed flights per day could be delayed because of anticipated FAA understaffing and associated air traffic control disruptions at many major U.S. airports where the Company operates, including the Company’s continental U.S. hubs at Chicago O’Hare International Airport, Newark Liberty International Airport and Los Angeles International Airport.

Should the FAA continue to implement its measures as announced, resulting in the significant delays the FAA has forecast, the Company could experience a material adverse effect on its operations system-wide, and would be forced to cancel flights to manage the impact to its operations and customers by enabling the remaining flights to operate at an acceptable level of reliability. Flight delays and cancellations could result in increased costs and lost revenue for the Company and could adversely affect the Company’s capacity, results of operations and financial condition. In addition to refunds due to customers for cancelled flights that cannot be rescheduled or reaccommodated, customers may proactively reduce or eliminate the travel they would otherwise have undertaken, resulting in permanent revenue loss for the Company. Delays, cancellations, misconnections, the inability of passengers to reach their final destinations and the occurrence of other events due to the FAA’s capacity reduction plan may adversely impact the Company’s relationship with its customers despite its efforts to communicate that the reason for these events is beyond its control.

Additionally, existing federal regulations expose the Company to fines and other penalties in connection with flight delays and, as of the date of this report, the Company has not received any indication from the FAA or the Department of Transportation that these provisions would not apply to government-caused delays. Such fines and penalties, if imposed, would increase the Company’s operating expenses. Moreover, if the FAA’s capacity reduction plan disrupts operations at the Company’s hubs and major connecting airports disproportionately to other airports, the Company may be at a disadvantage compared to certain of its competitors and may experience a material adverse effect to its results of operations and financial condition.

Union disputes, employee strikes or slowdowns, and other labor-related disruptions, as well as the integration of United’s workforces in connection with the Merger, present the potential for a delay in achieving expected Merger synergies, could adversely affect the Company’s operations, and could result in increased costs that impair its financial performance.

United is a highly unionized company. As of March 31, 2013, United and its subsidiaries had approximately 88,000 active employees, of whom approximately 80% were represented by various U.S. labor organizations.

The successful integration of United’s workforces in connection with the Merger and achievement of the anticipated benefits of the combined company depend in part on integrating employee groups and maintaining productive employee relations. In order to fully integrate the pre-Merger represented employee groups, the Company must negotiate a joint collective bargaining agreement covering each combined group. The process for integrating the labor groups is governed by a combination of the Railway Labor Act (the “RLA”), the McCaskill-Bond Amendment, and where applicable, the existing provisions of collective bargaining agreements and union policy. A delay in or failure to integrate employee groups presents the potential for delays in achieving expected Merger synergies, increased operating costs and labor disputes that could adversely affect our operations.

In February 2013, United reached tentative agreements on new joint collective bargaining agreements with the International Association of Machinists (the “IAM”) for its fleet service, passenger service and storekeeper workgroups. These tentative agreements were not ratified by the IAM members and, as a result, United and the IAM-represented workgroups will be returning to collective bargaining agreement negotiations. Having reached a ratified joint collective bargaining agreement with our pilots represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, International, we are also in the process of negotiating joint collective bargaining agreements with our other major work groups, including technicians, flight attendants and dispatchers.

The Company can provide no assurance that a successful or timely resolution of labor negotiations for all amendable collective bargaining agreements will be achieved. There is a risk that unions or individual employees might pursue judicial or arbitral claims arising out of changes implemented as a result of the Merger. Employee dissatisfaction with the results of the seniority integration may lead to litigation that in some cases can delay implementation of the integrated seniority list. There is also a possibility that employees or unions could engage in job actions such as slow-downs, work-to-rule campaigns, sick-outs or other actions designed to disrupt the Company’s normal operations, in an attempt to pressure the Company in collective bargaining negotiations. Although the RLA makes such actions unlawful until the parties have been lawfully released to self-help, and the Company can seek injunctive relief against premature self-help, such actions can cause significant harm even if ultimately enjoined. In addition, achieving joint collective bargaining agreements, including the pilot agreement, with our represented employee groups is likely to increase our labor costs, which increase could be material.

 

ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS.

The following table presents repurchases of UAL common stock made in the first quarter of fiscal year 2013:

 

Period

   Total number of
shares  purchased (a)
     Average price
paid per  share
     Total number of
shares  purchased as
part of publicity
announced
     Maximum number of  shares
(or approximate dollar
value) of shares that may yet
be purchased under the
plans or programs
 

01/01/13-01/31/13

     —         $ —           —           (b

02/01/13-02/28/13

     113,933         25.15         —           (b

03/01/13-03/31/13

     —           —           —           (b
  

 

 

          

Total

     113,933         25.15         
  

 

 

          

 

(a) Shares withheld from employees to satisfy certain tax obligations due upon the vesting of restricted stock.

 

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(b) The United Continental Holdings, Inc. 2008 Incentive Compensation Plan provides for the withholding of shares to satisfy tax obligations due upon the vesting of restricted stock or restricted stock units. However, this plan does not specify a maximum number of shares that may be repurchased.

 

ITEM 6. EXHIBITS.

A list of exhibits included as part of this Form 10-Q is set forth in an Exhibit Index that immediately precedes the exhibits.

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, each registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized. The signature for each undersigned company shall be deemed to relate only to matters having reference to such company or its subsidiaries.

 

        United Continental Holdings, Inc.
    (Registrant)
Date: April 25, 2013     By:   /s/ John D. Rainey
     

John D. Rainey

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

(principal financial officer)

Date: April 25, 2013     By:   /s/ Chris Kenny
     

Chris Kenny

Vice President and Controller

(principal accounting officer)

    United Airlines, Inc.
    (Registrant)
Date: April 25, 2013     By:   /s/ John D. Rainey
     

John D. Rainey

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

(principal financial officer)

Date: April 25, 2013     By:   /s/ Chris Kenny
     

Chris Kenny

Vice President and Controller

(principal accounting officer)

 

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EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit No.

    

Registrant

  

Exhibit

  *2.1       UAL United    Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of March 28, 2013, by and between Continental Airlines, Inc. and United Air Lines, Inc. (filed as Exhibit 2.1 to UAL’s Form 8-K filed on April 3, 2013, Commission file number 1-6033, and incorporated herein by reference)
  *3.1       UAL United    Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of United Airlines, Inc. (filed as Exhibit 3.1 to UAL’s Form 8-K filed on April 3, 2013, Commission file number 1-6033, and incorporated herein by reference)
  *3.2       UAL United    Amended and Restated By-laws of United Airlines, Inc. (filed as Exhibit 3.2 to UAL’s Form 8-K filed on April 3, 2013, Commission file number 1-6033, and incorporated herein by reference)
  *4.1       UAL United    First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of April 1, 2013, by and among United Continental Holdings, Inc., United Airlines, Inc. and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee, to the Amended and Restated Indenture, dated as of January 11, 2013 (filed as Exhibit 4.1 to UAL’s Form 8-K filed April 3, 2013, Commission file number 1-6033, and incorporated herein by reference)
  *4.2       UAL United    First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of April 1, 2013, by and among United Continental Holdings, Inc., United Airlines, Inc. and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee, to the Indenture, dated as of July 25, 2006 (filed as Exhibit 4.2 to UAL’s Form 8-K filed April 3, 2013, Commission file number 1-6033, and incorporated herein by reference)
  *10.1       UAL United    Credit and Guaranty Agreement, dated as of March 27, 2013, among Continental Airlines, Inc. and United Air Lines, Inc., as co-borrowers, United Continental Holdings, Inc., as parent and a guarantor, the subsidiaries of United Continental Holdings, Inc. other than the co-borrowers party thereto from time to time, as guarantors, the lenders party thereto from time to time, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to UAL’s Form 8-K filed March 28, 2013, Commission file number 1-6033, and incorporated herein by reference)
  12.1       UAL    United Continental Holdings, Inc. and Subsidiary Companies Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges and Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges and Preferred Stock Dividend Requirements
  12.2       United    United Airlines, Inc. and Subsidiary Companies Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges and Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges and Preferred Stock Dividend Requirements
  31.1       UAL    Certification of the Principal Executive Officer of UAL Pursuant to 15 U.S.C. 78m(a) or 78o(d) (Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002)
  31.2       UAL    Certification of the Principal Financial Officer of UAL Pursuant to 15 U.S.C. 78m(a) or 78o(d) (Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002)
  31.3       United    Certification of the Principal Executive Officer of United Pursuant to 15 U.S.C. 78m(a) or 78o(d) (Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002)
  31.4       United    Certification of the Principal Financial Officer of United Pursuant to 15 U.S.C. 78m(a) or 78o(d) (Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002)
  32.1       UAL    Certification of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of UAL Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1350 (Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002)
  32.2       United    Certification of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of United Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1350 (Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002)
  101.1      

UAL

United

   XBRL Instance Document
  101.2      

UAL

United

   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
  101.3      

UAL

United

   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
  101.4      

UAL

United

   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
  101.5      

UAL

United

   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Labels Linkbase Document
  101.6      

UAL

United

   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document

 

* Previously filed

 

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