DALLAS -- United Airlines' profit plunged 69 percent in the first three months of the year, and that was before the publicity surrounding the dragging of a bloodied passenger off a plane.
The cost of fuel, labor and maintenance all rose sharply in the first quarter, helping push United's profit down to $96 million, despite higher revenue.
The results released Monday beat Wall Street expectations, however. United performed better by other measures -- more cancellation-free days, fewer lost bags.
The power to raise prices was also swinging United's way. A key revenue-per-mile figure was flat, adding to evidence that a two-year decline in average fares is over. United expects the revenue-per-mile figure to rise by 1 to 3 percent in the second quarter.
It is unclear whether last week's incident in which Chicago airport officers dragged a 69-year-old man off a United Express plane will halt United's progress.
Chief Executive Officer Oscar Munoz issued another apology Monday.
"It is obvious from recent experiences that we need to do a much better job serving our customers," Munoz said in a statement. He said the company is "dedicated to setting the standard for customer service among U.S. airlines."
While the April 9 United Express Flight 3411 made headlines all last week, it has had little effect on United's stock. United Continental Holdings Inc. stock fell about the same as shares of Delta, Alaska and JetBlue last week.
Ahead of its report, United led a rally in airline stocks Monday. The Chicago-based company's shares rose $1.70, or 2.5 percent, to close at $70.77. After the financial results were released, the shares gained another 73 cents in after-hours trading.
Excluding nonrepeating items, United said first-quarter profit was 41 cents per share. Wall Street expected 38 cents per share, according to a FactSet survey of 16 analysts.
Revenue rose 3 percent to $8.42 billion, also topping forecasts. But operating costs jumped 8 percent, driven by a 28 percent increase in fuel, a 7 percent rise in labor, and a 13 percent rise in maintenance and repair expenses.
Airlines are prospering from travel demand that remains relatively strong. Reduced competition -- several major airports are dominated by one or two carriers -- may limit United's financial fallout after the dragging incident.
Still, Cowen & Co. analyst Helane Becker said Monday that investors should be concerned if the incident leads to more government regulation of airlines.
United has said it is examining policies including booting passengers off oversold flights and has promised a complete review by April 30. It has already taken some steps, including requiring that crew members flying to assignments book flights at least an hour early. Had that policy been in place April 9, it might have averted the need to remove four passengers to make room for Republic Airways employees on their way to staff a United Express flight the next morning.
Besides the damage to United's reputation, investors are nervous that airlines are planning to add too many flights, undercutting the recovery in prices.
United executives are scheduled to discuss the first-quarter results with analysts and reporters today.
Business on 04/18/2017