United Airlines Holdings Inc Stock Price, News & Analysis

United Airlines will hold a conference call on January 21, 2021, at 9:30 a.m. CT to discuss its fourth-quarter and full-year 2020 financial results. The company plans to issue these results following market close on January 20, 2021. A live webcast will be available, with a replay accessible within 24 hours and archived for three months. Investors can participate through their investor relations website at ir.united.com.

On December 21, 2020, United Airlines' CEO Scott Kirby and President Brett Hart announced the bipartisan relief bill's extension of the Payroll Support Program (PSP) for airlines. This extension allows thousands of employees impacted by September 30 furloughs to return temporarily through March 2021, marking a positive development for many workers. However, they caution that customer demand is unlikely to change significantly in the near term. Kirby emphasized the importance of vaccine developments but acknowledged that widespread vaccination would take months.

United Airlines announced a program in collaboration with the CDC to collect passenger contact information for all flights, aimed at enhancing COVID-19 contact tracing. Starting this week, customers can voluntarily provide their details during check-in via the mobile app or at the airport. This initiative is the most comprehensive of its kind in the airline industry and is expected to support public health efforts significantly. United's Chief Customer Officer emphasized the importance of such initiatives until a vaccine becomes widely available.

United Airlines introduces Agent on Demand, a virtual customer service option available at its hubs, enhancing contactless travel. Customers can access support via mobile devices through calls, texts, or video chats with agents. Initially available at Chicago O'Hare and Houston George Bush International Airports, it will expand to other hubs by year-end. This initiative aims to streamline assistance for seat assignments, flight status, and more, while maintaining safety protocols during the pandemic. Translation features support communication in over 100 languages, enhancing accessibility.

United Airlines announced a tax benefits preservation plan to protect its net operating loss carryforwards (NOLs) of approximately $8.2 billion as of September 30, 2020. This measure is crucial to avoid limitation on these tax assets due to potential ownership changes. The plan will issue one preferred share purchase right for each common stock share and will be voted on at the 2021 annual meeting. The rights activate if any individual or group acquires 4.9% or more of UAL shares without board approval, enabling existing shareholders to buy additional shares at a 50% discount.

United Airlines launched a campaign inviting MileagePlus members to donate miles to nearly 40 non-profits through its Miles on a Mission platform. The initiative aims to raise over 11 million miles for organizations like the Thurgood Marshall College Fund and Compass to Care, which provide essential travel for health care and education needs. United will match the first 125,000 miles for each participating non-profit. Since October 2019, the program has raised over 92 million miles, supporting numerous charitable causes during the pandemic.

United Airlines is expanding its COVID-19 testing efforts for flights from Houston to select destinations in Latin America and the Caribbean, starting December 7. Customers can take a self-collected, mail-in test for $119, which meets local entry requirements for destinations such as Aruba, Belize City, and Lima. This initiative is part of United's strategy to enhance travel safety and demand. The airline has reported significant increases in passenger numbers when testing options are available, illustrating its commitment to safer travel experiences amid the pandemic.

United Airlines launched a free COVID-19 testing pilot program for passengers on flight 14 from Newark to London, starting on November 16, 2020. All travelers over 2 years old undergo rapid testing before departure. This initiative aims to demonstrate the potential for testing as an alternative to travel restrictions. United has noted increased travel demand and customer load factors when testing options are available. The airline, recognized as a leader in safety measures during the pandemic, was the first to enforce a mask mandate and plans to apply long-lasting antimicrobial coatings to its fleet.

United Airlines' Mike Leskinen, Vice President of Corporate Development and Investor Relations, will present at the Bernstein Operational Decisions Conference on November 17 at 12:30 p.m. CT. The event will be streamed live on the investor relations section of the United Airlines website, and the video will be archived for later viewing.

United Airlines aims to connect people globally, with its common stock traded under the symbol UAL on Nasdaq.