A United Airlines plane at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston on November 6, 2025.
Brandon Bell | Getty Images
united airlines said on Tuesday that sales of premium seats, business travel and no-frills tickets have been strong in recent weeks, and strong travel demand could result in record profits this year.
The company expects adjusted earnings per share to be between $12 and $14 this year, in line with analyst estimates of $13.16. For the first quarter, United had expected earnings of $1 to $1.50 per share, while analysts expected earnings of $1.13 per share.
United join the rivals delta airlines in predicting the potential for record earnings this year. These two airlines accounted for nearly all of the U.S. airline industry’s profits in the first nine months of 2025. Other airlines are expected to report later this month.
United Airlines’ fourth-quarter unit revenue fell 1.6% year over year. Still, United said premium revenue increased 9% in the fourth quarter and 11% for the full year compared to 2024. Sales of limited basic economy tickets, which compete with low-cost carriers, rose 7% in the last three months of 2025.
Most airlines are racing to add fresh new cabins at premium prices, chasing revenue from big-ticket tickets like first class.
The following compares what United Airlines reported for the quarter ended Dec. 31 with Wall Street expectations, based on estimates compiled by LSEG.
Earnings per share: $3.10 adjusted vs. $2.94 expected Revenue: $15.4 billion vs. $15.4 billion expected
The airline’s fourth-quarter profit rose 6% year over year to $1.04 billion ($3.19 per share), with capacity increasing 6.5% compared to the same period in 2024. Adjusted for one-time items, United Airlines reported profit of $1.01 billion, or $3.10 per share.
“Customers are choosing us,” United CEO Scott Kirby said in an interview with CNBC last year, expressing confidence in the airline’s growth plans.
The longest government shutdown in history during the fourth quarter took a $250 million hit to United’s pre-tax results, the company said. A shortage of air traffic controllers caused delays and reduced bookings, but travel has rebounded, airline executives said.
United Airlines reported adjusted full-year 2025 earnings of $10.20 per share, an 8% increase from a year earlier, although the airline had previously lowered its full-year forecast. The company also reported adjusted annual net income of $3.5 billion, up 6% year over year.
