United Airlines’s non-fuel unit costs (CASM ex-fuel) increased by 2.7% year-over-year in the fourth quarter of 2019, while full-year non-fuel costs rose by 1% compared to 2018.
In the third quarter of 2019 United’s non-fuel unit costs increased by 2.1% in the third quarter compared with the same period in 2018.
Fourth-quarter passenger revenue per available seat mile (PRASM) increased by 0.8% year-over-year.
United spent much of 2019 dealing with flight cancellations and related cost increases from the grounding of its 14-strong Boeing 737 Max fleet and the absence of 15 additional Max jets that were to be delivered last year. The airline has removed the Max from its schedule through 4 June.
Boeing estimates that the “ungrounding” of the 737 Max aircraft will begin during mid-2020, the manufacturer discloses 21 January.
United will discuss its Q4 results in a 22 January earnings call.
