CHICAGO (AP) – United Airlines appears to be hitting its stride after struggling to make a 2010 merger pay off.
The airline’s formula is lower fuel prices and more revenue for every mile that passengers fly.
United Continental Holdings Inc. said Thursday that third-quarter net income soared to $924 million, or $2.37 per share, compared with $379 million a year earlier.
Excluding special items, the company said it earned a record adjusted profit of $1.1 billion, or $2.75 per share. Analysts, who usually exclude items, expected $2.70 per share.
Revenue rose 3.3 percent to $10.56 billion, matching the forecast of analysts, according to a FactSet survey. It helped that so-called ancillary revenue rose 10.9 percent as the average passenger paid more than $22 per trip in fees for things such as checked bags and more legroom.