United, after years of declining revenue, hits the thrusters

FILE - In this Sept. 8, 2015, file photo, a United Airlines passenger plane lands at Newark Liberty International Airport in Newark, N.J. United Airlines seeks to narrow gap on competitors like Delta by beefing up routes from hub airports. The airline also wants to upgrade facilities at key airports and reduce its use of smaller planes on important business-travel routes. (AP Photo/Mel Evans, File) FILE - In this Sept. 8, 2015, file photo, a United Airlines passenger plane lands at Newark Liberty International Airport in Newark, N.J. United Airlines seeks to narrow gap on competitors like Delta by beefing up routes from hub airports. The airline also wants to upgrade facilities at key airports and reduce its use of smaller planes on important business-travel routes. (AP Photo/Mel Evans, File)

By Associated Press February 27, 2017 4 min read

DALLAS (AP) – United Airlines, which lost the distinction of being the world’s biggest carrier after shrinking for several years, plans to regain lost ground by adding more flights from key airports this summer.

The airline wants to upgrade facilities at key airports and trim the use of smaller planes on important business routes.

If the expansion plans pan out, United could staunch slipping revenue numbers, which fell nearly 2 percent in the last five years, while revenue at industry leader Delta Air Lines Inc. rose 8 percent.

United has slipped in other ways, too. Only once in the last five years did United Continental Holdings Inc. top Delta’s operating income. And it consistently ranks worse in on-time flights and cancellations.

Delta and American Airlines Group Inc. have been adding flights, often on bigger planes, between major cities. Not United.