United Airlines may just have the last laugh concerning the David Dao UA3411 incident. Its April numbers are in and they show no backlash over the dragging or leggings incident.
There is no doubt about it, United had a very good month. Furthermore, United did well against its competition, cancelling fewer flights and boasting a superior on-time arrival average.
United highlights the following from its April performance–
- Finished April ahead of all primary competitors in important metrics including on-time departures and arrivals, as well as the fewest flight cancellations for the month among the same group of peers.
- Achieved another record-setting month with fewer flight cancellations than any other month in the company’s history.
- Set a no-cancel streak record, going 145 hours without a flight cancellation.
Breaking down the numbers further, we see United transported 12 million passengers last month, 7.6% more than April 2016. Load factor was up by 2.6% to 83.1% (87% on domestic flights, 78.4% on international flights). Finally, revenue passenger miles grew 7.4% to 17.5 billion, the airline said. Revenue passenger miles is number of paying passengers multiplied by the distance traveled.
Even United’s cargo business is booming, with business (tons transported) up nearly 20%.
You can check out all the numbers here. These are operational numbers, not financials. It is conceivable United only achieved such great numbers by slashing prices, but United also expects second quarter profit to rise 1-3% over 2016. We will soon see.
CONCLUSION
We’ll wait for May just to be sure, but the public’s disgust over the Dao incident has not yet hurt United’s performance. It has not hurt the stock price either. Currently the stock is trading at $74.98. The day before the Dao incident the stock was $70.88.
Read More on UA3411:
Doctor Dragged Off Oversold United Flight
United CEO Addresses Bloodied Passenger Incident
I’ll Defend Oscar’s Note to United Employees on Flight 3411
Royal Jordanian Trolls United Airlines
Is Oscar Munoz in Danger of Losing His Job?
Details Emerge on Identity of Doctor Dragged Off United Flight
What United CEO Left Out of Apology
Emirates Shames United With Powerful Ad
Must See: United CEO on Good Morning America
One New Video, Two Competing Narratives – Passenger Interaction with Police Prior to Ejection from United Flight
Why Didn’t Anyone Help the Bloody Passenger?
Lawyers Stage Elaborate Press Conference to Pummel United Airlines
Is Oscar Munoz a Liar?
United Airlines Board of Directors Addresses Controversy
United CEO Apology Tour at Asian Consulates
Police Officer Who Dragged Doctor Off United Flight Tells His Side
United CEO Writes Me a Letter
New Audio and Video from UA3411 Dragging Incident
Breaking: United Airlines Reveals Major Policy Changes
United Shares Comprehensive Timeline of UA3411
Economics 101. This is what happens when industry consolidation has resulted in 4 mega carriers. No matter how bad one carrier is, there are markets where the Big 4 dominate and can charge whatever they want. Want to get to Cleveland from Wash-Dulles ? That will be $600 for a one way flight on a crappy regional jet. Write Dao a check and continue gouging 150,0000 other passengers a day.
The average passenger normally buys airline tickets in advance so the likelihood of most April passengers buying their airline tickets before the Dao incident is quite high. I know if I bought airline tickets to fly United before the Dao incident, I’ll still fly with UA simply because I don’t want the hassle of paying cancellation fees and what not.
What Joey said.
If anyone really thinks that a few thousand left wingers who might rarely fly UA as it is, will hurt their bottom line because UA pulled off an unruly passenger, then you really do not understand the American traveler.
Whenever you see customers treated like cattle across the board, high prices across the board, and not a glimmer of innovation. You know a cartel is in operation.
TRUMP! Please drain the airline cartel swamp and the congre$$men who protect it.
An executive order banning double-selling of seats. You buy the seat…its yours. The airline wants it for staff and their friends and their family, sure they can try buy it off you AT THE GATE, but noone needs to sell it.ever.