United Airlines Holdings 10-Q 2021-09-30

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

(Mark One)

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2021

OR

For the transition period from to

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this Chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer," "smaller reporting company," and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

The number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer's classes of common stock as of October 14, 2021 is shown below:

OMISSION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION

This combined Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q is separately filed by United Airlines Holdings, Inc. and United Airlines, Inc. United Airlines, Inc. meets the conditions set forth in General Instruction H(1)(a) and (b) of Form 10-Q and is therefore filing this form with the reduced disclosure format allowed under that General Instruction.

United Airlines Holdings, Inc.

United Airlines, Inc.

Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q

For the Quarterly Period Ended September 30, 2021

Table of Contents

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

UNITED AIRLINES HOLDINGS, INC.

STATEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATED OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED)

(In millions, except per share amounts)

The accompanying Combined Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of these statements.

UNITED AIRLINES HOLDINGS, INC.

STATEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATED COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) (UNAUDITED)

(In millions)

The accompanying Combined Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of these statements.

UNITED AIRLINES HOLDINGS, INC.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (UNAUDITED)

(In millions, except shares)

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This Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations is provided as a supplement to and should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q to enhance the understanding of our results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Overview

United Airlines Holdings, Inc. (together with its consolidated subsidiaries, "UAL" or the "Company") is a holding company, and its principal, wholly-owned subsidiary is United Airlines, Inc. (together with its consolidated subsidiaries, "United"). This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q is a combined report of UAL and United, including their respective consolidated financial statements. As UAL consolidates United for financial statement purposes, disclosures that relate to activities of United also apply to UAL, unless otherwise noted. United's operating revenues and operating expenses comprise nearly 100% of UAL's revenues and operating expenses. In addition, United comprises approximately the entire balance of UAL's assets, liabilities and operating cash flows. When appropriate, UAL and United are named specifically for their individual contractual obligations and related disclosures, and any significant differences between the operations and results of UAL and United are separately disclosed and explained. We sometimes use the words "we," "our," "us," and the "Company" in this report for disclosures that relate to all of UAL and United.

The Company transports people and cargo through its mainline operations, which utilize jet aircraft with at least 126 seats, and regional operations, which utilize smaller aircraft that are operated under contract by United Express carriers. The Company serves virtually every major market around the world, either directly or through participation in Star Alliance®, the world's largest airline alliance.

Third Quarter 2021 Overview

Our business and operating results for 2021 continue to be significantly impacted by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Given the impact of the pandemic on our business and operating results in 2020, we believe that a comparison of our results in 2021 to 2019 for certain key metrics in this financial overview discussion is more reflective of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Company cut, relative to the third quarter of 2019, approximately 28% of its scheduled capacity for the third quarter of 2021 and expects its scheduled capacity in the fourth quarter of 2021 to be down approximately 23% versus the fourth quarter of 2019.

Operating revenue for the third quarter of 2021 decreased by $3.6 billion to $7.8 billion, or 31.9%, versus the third quarter of 2019. Operating revenue is expected to decrease between 25% and 30% in the fourth quarter of 2021 as compared to the same period in 2019.

Operating expense for the third quarter of 2021 decreased by $3.2 billion to $6.7 billion, or 32.2%, versus the third quarter of 2019.

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic and Outlook

The COVID-19 pandemic, together with the measures implemented or recommended by governmental authorities and private organizations in response to the pandemic, has had an adverse impact that has been material to the Company's business, operating results, financial condition and liquidity. The Company has seen increasing demand for travel both domestically and in countries where entry is permitted; however, as the situation surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic remains fluid, the pandemic has continued to negatively impact travel demand. It remains difficult to reasonably assess or predict the full extent of the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company's longer-term operational and financial performance, which will depend on a number of future developments, many of which are outside the Company's control, such as the ultimate duration of and factors impacting the recovery from the pandemic (including the efficacy and speed of vaccination programs in curbing the spread of the virus in different markets, the introduction and spread of new variants of the virus that may be resistant to currently approved vaccines and the continuation of existing or implementation of new government travel restrictions), the volatility of aircraft fuel prices, customer behavior changes and fluctuations in demand for air travel, among others. The Company's recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic has not followed a linear path, and due to the significant uncertainty that remains, its future operating performance, particularly in the short-term, may be subject to volatility. The Company is taking steps to be prepared for recovery as demand for travel continues to increase in line with recent customer booking trends, which include making certain investments in the recovery.

Risks and uncertainties related to the COVID-19 pandemic are further described in Part II, Item 1A. Risk Factors— "The global pandemic resulting from a novel strain of coronavirus has had an adverse impact that has been material to the Company's business, operating results, financial condition and liquidity, and the duration and spread of the pandemic could result in additional adverse impacts. The outbreak of another disease or similar public health threat in the future could also have an adverse effect on the Company's business, operating results, financial condition and liquidity" in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2021.

As the COVID-19 pandemic affected global aviation as well as major economic and financial markets, we have taken steps to mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business and have remained focused on protecting the health and safety of our workforce and customers and transforming our customers' onboard experience in preparation for an eventual recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic:

Cost Reductions**.** The Company has identified approximately $2.2 billion of annual permanent structural cost reductions including improvements in labor efficiencies. During the first quarter of 2021, the Company offered voluntary leaves of absence to certain U.S.-based front-line employees. This program included (based on employee group, age and completed years of service) a partially-paid leave of absence with active health care coverage and travel privileges. Employees who separate from the Company after the end of such program receive certain separation benefits, such as post-employment health benefits and travel privileges. Approximately 4,500 employees elected to participate in this program, and it is expected that the majority of them will separate from employment at the end of their leave of absence. See Note 5 and Note 9 to the financial statements included in Part I, Item 1 of this report for additional information on charges related to these programs.

Liquidity**.** The Company entered into a number of transactions to improve its liquidity and manage its capital. In the first nine months of 2021, the Company:

• issued, through a private offering to eligible purchasers, $4.0 billion in aggregate principal amount of two series of notes, consisting of $2.0 billion in aggregate principal amount of 4.375% senior secured notes due 2026 (the "2026 Notes") and $2.0 billion in aggregate principal amount of 4.625% senior secured notes due 2029 (the "2029 Notes" and, together with the 2026 Notes, the "Notes");

• entered into a new Term Loan Credit and Guaranty Agreement (the "New Term Loan Facility") initially providing term loans up to an aggregate amount of $5.0 billion and a new Revolving Credit and Guaranty Agreement (the "New Revolving Credit Facility" and, together with the New Term Loan Facility, the "New Loan Faci

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There have been no material changes in market risk from the information provided in Part II, Item 7A, Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk, in our 2020 Form 10-K.

Evaluation of Disclosure Control and Procedures

UAL and United each maintains controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports filed or submitted by UAL and United to the SEC is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified by the SEC's rules and forms, and is accumulated and communicated to management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. The management of UAL and United, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, performed an evaluation to conclude with reasonable assurance that UAL's and United's disclosure controls and procedures were designed and operating effectively to report the information each company is required to disclose in the reports it files with the SEC on a timely basis. Based on that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer of UAL and United have concluded that as of September 30, 2021, disclosure controls and procedures were effective.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting during the Quarter Ended September 30, 2021

During the three months ended September 30, 2021, there were no changes in UAL's or United's internal control over financial reporting that materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, their internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934).

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

See Part I, Item 3, Legal Proceedings, of the 2020 Form 10-K for a description of legal proceedings.

There have been no material changes from the risk factors disclosed in Part II, Item 1A., Risk Factors, of our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2021.

ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

(a) None

(b) None

(c) None

EXHIBIT INDEX

^ Portions of the referenced exhibit have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(b) of Regulation S-K.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, each registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.