United Airlines Anticipates Full Fuel Cost Recovery by Q4 Amid Rising Expenses
US carrier’s operating profits slip 17% to $1.1 billion in second quarter. United Airlines expects to be recovering all of its additional fuel costs through higher fares by the fourth quarter after today disclosing an operating profit of almost $1.1 billion in the second quarter. The Star Alliance carrier's second-quarter operating profit was down 17% on the $1.3 billion it made for the same period in 2025, while net profit slipped to $805 million from $973 million a year before. That was achieved in the face of a $2.3 billion – or 84% – increase in its fuel costs for the April-June period. The carrier estimates it recovered around half of this additional cost during the second quarter. United’s revenues climbed 16% in the second quarter to almost $17.7 billion, supported by a 12% rise in yields. United Airlines chief executive Scott Kirby says: “United is built to thrive in every environment, and when oil prices spiked in March, we quickly and decisively acted to adjust our schedules, while simultaneously doubling down on our customer investments." The US carrier estimates, based on current oil prices, that its fuel costs for the full year will be nearly $6 billion higher than in 2025. "In the third quarter the company expects to recover approximately 80% to 90% of the increase, and 100% by the fourth quarter," it says.