United Airlines Misses Revenue, Beats Profit, and Lifts Outlook Amid Demand Rebound

United Airlines (NASDAQ:UAL) reported second-quarter revenue that fell short of Wall Street expectations, sending shares down 3% in pre-market today. However, the company delivered better-than-expected earnings and issued a full-year profit forecast that suggests a stronger second half.

Revenue came in at $15.2 billion, missing the consensus estimate of $15.36 billion. Despite the top-line miss, adjusted earnings per share reached $3.87, beating forecasts by six cents and marking an improvement over the prior year.

For the full year, United projected adjusted earnings between $9.00 and $11.00 per share. The midpoint of that range aligns closely with the Street’s estimate of $10.16, while the high end signals potential upside.

CEO Scott Kirby noted a positive shift in demand starting in early July, with bookings accelerating by six percentage points. He pointed to airline schedules indicating a new industry supply inflection coming by mid-August, echoing a pattern seen last year.

Kirby also expressed optimism about the broader market backdrop, saying the world feels “less uncertain” now than during the first half of 2025—a sentiment fueling United’s confidence in a strong year-end performance.