United Airlines warns profit still suffering from Newark chaos — but travel demand picking up

Group 1: Travel Demand and Earnings Outlook - United Airlines reported a 6 percentage point acceleration in overall travel demand and a double-digit acceleration in business bookings in the third quarter compared to the prior quarter [2] - The company expects its earnings to suffer in the current quarter due to operational constraints at Newark airport, leading to a revised full-year adjusted profit forecast of $9 to $11 per share, below analysts' expectations of $10.04 per share [4][5] - The adjusted profit for the quarter ending September is expected to be in the range of $2.25 to $2.75 per share, with a midpoint of $2.50 per share, compared to analysts' average estimate of $2.60 [6] Group 2: Market Conditions and Pricing Power - The airline industry is experiencing weak pricing power, with United's yield down across all geographies in the second quarter, particularly in the US domestic market [9] - Despite the challenges, industry executives believe that travel demand has stabilized since April, which may lead to improved airfares in the second half of the year as airlines cut unprofitable flights [8][10] - United's CEO expressed confidence in a strong finish to the year, citing reduced geopolitical and macroeconomic uncertainty compared to the first half of 2025 [5][12]