And here is another way to analyze the same numbers:
UAL Corporation Reports Third-Quarter 2005 Results
Monday October 31, 10:16 am ET
- Third-Quarter Operating Earnings of $165 Million, a $245 Million Improvement Year-Over-Year Despite Higher Fuel Prices Negatively Impacting Fuel Expenses By $405 Million
- $68 Million Net Income, Excluding Restructuring Charges
- Predominantly Non-Cash Bankruptcy Related Charges of $1.8 Billion Result in Net Quarterly Loss of $1.8 Billion
- Mainline Passenger Unit Revenue up 11 percent
- Mainline Unit Costs Up 5 percent on 5 percent Lower Capacity Excluding Fuel, Mainline Unit Costs Down 5 percent
CHICAGO, Oct. 31 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- UAL Corporation (OTC Bulletin Board: UALAQ - News), the holding company whose primary subsidiary is United Airlines, today reported its third-quarter 2005 financial results.
UAL reported third-quarter operating earnings of $165 million, $245 million better than the same quarter last year, despite higher fuel prices for the mainline and regional affiliates negatively impacting fuel expense by $405 million year-over-year. UAL reported a net loss of $1.8 billion, or a loss per basic share of $15.26, which includes $1.8 billion in reorganization items. The company believes the best indicator of United's post-reorganization financial performance is provided by reviewing operating and net earnings excluding restructuring charges. Excluding the reorganization items, UAL earned a net profit for the third quarter totaling $68 million.
Reorganization items were primarily driven by $1.7 billion in non-cash aircraft rejection charges. It is common for the results of operations of companies progressing through Chapter 11 to be impacted by non-cash charges related to their reorganization, especially as restructuring work nears completion. Charges based on the claims of our creditors are recorded at the amount expected to be allowed by the court. However, as shown in our Plan of Reorganization, these claims are expected to be settled at exit for a minor fraction of the amount of the charges recorded. Looking forward, the company is expected to record a large gain at exit in 2006 when these claims are settled for less than the amounts originally recorded. It is important to note that this is a matter of accurate accounting, and that neither the aircraft rejection charges recorded at this time nor the gain expected to be recorded at exit in 2006 have any significant impact on the company's cash position.