United Airlines reported robust financial performance for 2024, highlighted by a full-year pre-tax earnings of $4.2 billion and an adjusted pre-tax earnings of $4.6 billion. The company achieved a pre-tax margin of 7.3% and an adjusted pre-tax margin of 8.1%, reflecting its solid operational achievements. United Airlines Financial Results 2024 also recorded full-year diluted earnings per share of $9.45 and adjusted diluted earnings per share of $10.61, meeting the upper range of its guidance provided at the beginning of the year.
United Airlines achieved several historic milestones in 2024, operating the highest number of flights and carrying nearly 174 million passengers, a company record. The airline maintained its position as a leader in on-time performance across all seven of its U.S. hubs, with customer satisfaction metrics showing consistent year-over-year improvements in United Airlines’ financial results in 2024.
Investments in employee training, infrastructure, and technology contributed significantly to these achievements. The company opened an expanded Flight Training Center in Denver and initiated work on a new Inflight Training Center near its Washington, D.C., hub.
“United had a unique strategy coming out of COVID and our people have delivered for customers leading to a structurally and permanently changed industry,” said United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby. “2024 was a strong year across the board for United as we’ve become the leading global airline and we enter 2025 with demand trends continuing to accelerate which puts us on the path to double-digit pre-tax margins.”
Fourth-Quarter Highlights
In the fourth quarter of 2024, United’s capacity grew by 6.2% compared to the same period in 2023. The airline reported total operating revenue of $14.7 billion, a 7.8% increase year-over-year, with TRASM rising by 1.6%. Net income reached $1 billion, while adjusted net income totaled $1.1 billion. The diluted earnings per share for the quarter were $2.95, with an adjusted figure of $3.26, contributing significantly to the United’s financial results in 2024.
Additional accomplishments in the quarter included a record number of passengers carried and the best on-time departure rates among major U.S. airlines at its seven U.S. hubs.
Innovations and Expansions
Throughout the year, United introduced a range of customer-centric innovations. These included the rollout of Starlink’s high-speed Wi-Fi service on over 1,000 aircraft and the launch of Kinective Media, a new advertising platform offering personalized customer experiences. The airline also became the first U.S. carrier to allow MileagePlus members to pool and share miles within linked accounts.
United expanded its network by announcing nine new international destinations for summer 2025, including Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, and Nuuk, Greenland. It also operated its largest international schedule by available seat miles, flying to 133 destinations across 67 countries.
Focus on Sustainability and Community
United Airlines continued its leadership in sustainability by purchasing and utilizing sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) at multiple airports, including Chicago O’Hare and Los Angeles International. Additionally, the airline supported communities by transporting over 157 tons of relief supplies to assist humanitarian crises and donating more than 70 million MileagePlus miles to charitable organizations.
Employees contributed over 64,000 volunteer hours to global community initiatives, including packaging meals with Rise Against Hunger and upcycling amenity kits through Good360.
United Airlines closed 2024 on a high note with record-breaking achievements in financial performance, operational excellence, and customer satisfaction. The airline’s continued investments in technology, sustainability, and network expansion position it for a strong 2025, with robust demand trends and plans to serve more international destinations than any other U.S. carrier, based on United’s financial results in 2024.
