United Continental Holdings Reports December 2010 Operational Performance for United and Continental

CHICAGO, Jan. 7, 2011 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ —

United Continental Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: UAL) today reported December 2010 and full-year 2010 operational results for United Air Lines, Inc. and Continental Airlines, Inc.

United and Continental’s combined consolidated traffic (revenue passenger miles) in December 2010 increased 1.4 percent versus December 2009 on a consolidated capacity increase of 2.3 percent. The carriers’ combined consolidated load factor decreased 0.7 points compared to the same period last year.

United and Continental’s December 2010 combined consolidated passenger revenue per available seat mile (PRASM) increased an estimated 7.5 to 8.5 percent compared to December 2009, while mainline PRASM increased an estimated 8.5 to 9.5 percent compared to the same period last year.In December, the carriers implemented a revenue sharing structure for their trans-Atlantic joint venture, retroactive to Jan. 1, 2010.While the impact of the joint venture obligations for the first through third quarter 2010 will be booked as a charge in Other Operating Expense in United Continental Holdings’ statement of consolidated operations, the fourth quarter impact and all future adjustments will be booked as adjustments to passenger revenue.The fourth quarter adjustment, which was booked entirely in the month of December, reduced the carriers’ December consolidated PRASM by approximately 1.0 point and is included in the above consolidated PRASM estimate.

The snowstorms during the month of December resulted in an estimated $25 million reduction in consolidated passenger revenue, included in the above consolidated PRASM estimate, and a $10 million reduction in net earnings for the quarter.

About United Continental Holdings, Inc.

United Continental Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: UAL) is the holding company for both United Airlines and Continental Airlines. Together with United Express, Continental Express and Continental Connection, these airlines operate a total of approximately 5,800 flights a day to 371 airports on six continents from their hubs in Chicago, Cleveland, Denver, Guam, Houston, Los Angeles, New York/Newark Liberty, San Francisco, Tokyo and Washington, D.C. United and Continental are members of Star Alliance, which offers 21,000 daily flights to 1,160 airports in 181 countries.United and Continental’s more than 80,000 employees reside in every U.S. state and in many countries around the world.For more information about United Continental Holdings, Inc., go to UnitedContinentalHoldings.com. For more information about the airlines, see united.com and continental.com, and follow each company on Twitter and Facebook.