United Airlines (NASDAQ: UAL) details terms of new 2031 senior notes
United Airlines Holdings, Inc. plans a primary offering of senior unsecured notes due March 1, 2031, fully and unconditionally guaranteed by United Airlines, Inc. The notes pay fixed interest semiannually each March 1 and September 1, starting September 1, 2026, and can be redeemed at a make-whole price before September 1, 2030 and at par thereafter. Holders may require repurchase at 101% of principal plus accrued interest if a defined Change of Control Triggering Event occurs.
The notes rank equally with other unsecured, unsubordinated debt but are effectively subordinated to secured borrowings and to liabilities of non-guarantor subsidiaries. United expects to use net proceeds for fees and expenses of the transaction and general corporate purposes. Preliminary 2025 results show net income of $1,044 million for the fourth quarter and $3,353 million for the full year, with Adjusted EBITDA of $8,076 million and Adjusted EBITDAR of $8,969 million, supported by an 82.2% passenger load factor for the year.
Positive
- None.
Negative
- None.
(To Prospectus dated November 20, 2023)
Guaranteed by
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Per Note
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Total
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Public offering price(1)
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Underwriting discounts and commissions
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Proceeds, before expenses, to us
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Barclays
Citigroup
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J.P. Morgan
Morgan Stanley
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BofA Securities
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BNP PARIBAS
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Credit Agricole CIB
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Deutsche Bank Securities
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Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC
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Mizuho
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MUFG
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NatWest
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Natixis
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SMBC Nikko
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Loop Capital Markets
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ING
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Raymond James
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Academy Securities
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Blaylock Van, LLC
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Page
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About This Prospectus Supplement
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| | | | S-ii | | |
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Prospectus Supplement Summary
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| | | | S-1 | | |
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Risk Factors
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| | | | S-5 | | |
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Use of Proceeds
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| | | | S-10 | | |
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Capitalization
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| | | | S-11 | | |
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Selected Financial Data
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| | | | S-12 | | |
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Description of Notes
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| | | | S-14 | | |
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Certain U.S. Federal Tax Considerations
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| | | | S-30 | | |
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Certain ERISA Considerations
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| | | | S-34 | | |
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Underwriting
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| | | | S-36 | | |
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Legal Matters
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| | | | S-41 | | |
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Experts
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| | | | S-41 | | |
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Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference
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| | | | S-41 | | |
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Page
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About This Prospectus
|
| | | | 1 | | |
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Risk Factors
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| | | | 2 | | |
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Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
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| | | | 2 | | |
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The Company
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Selling Security Holders
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Use of Proceeds
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Description of UAL Capital Stock
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| | | | 5 | | |
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Description of Debt Securities and Guarantees
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| | | | 15 | | |
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Description of Depositary Shares
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| | | | 25 | | |
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Description of Stock Purchase Contracts and Stock Purchase Units
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| | | | 28 | | |
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Description of Subscription Rights
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| | | | 29 | | |
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Description of Warrants
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| | | | 30 | | |
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Plan of Distribution
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Where You Can Find More Information
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| | | | 33 | | |
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Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference
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| | | | 33 | | |
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Legal Matters
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| | | | 34 | | |
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Experts
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| | | | 34 | | |
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Three months ended
December 31, 2025 |
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Year ended
December 31, 2025 |
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(unaudited, in millions)
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Net income
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| | | $ | 1,044 | | | | | $ | 3,353 | | |
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Adjusted EBITDA(2)
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| | | | 2,185 | | | | | | 8,076 | | |
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Adjusted EBITDAR(2)
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| | | | 2,424 | | | | | | 8,969 | | |
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Three months ended
December 31, 2025 |
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Year ended
December 31, 2025 |
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(unaudited, in millions)
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| Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDAR Calculations | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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Net income
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| | | $ | 1,044 | | | | | $ | 3,353 | | |
| Adjusted for: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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Depreciation and amortization
|
| | | | 748 | | | | | | 2,939 | | |
|
Interest expense, net of capitalized interest and interest income
|
| | | | 133 | | | | | | 556 | | |
|
Income tax expense
|
| | | | 281 | | | | | | 953 | | |
|
Special charges (credits)
|
| | | | (8) | | | | | | 259 | | |
|
Nonoperating unrealized (gains) losses on investments, net
|
| | | | (13) | | | | | | (4) | | |
|
Nonoperating debt extinguishment and modification fees
|
| | | | — | | | | | | 20 | | |
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Three months ended
December 31, 2025 |
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Year ended
December 31, 2025 |
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(unaudited, in millions)
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Adjusted EBITDA
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| | | $ | 2,185 | | | | | $ | 8,076 | | |
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Fixed portion of operating lease expense
|
| | | | 239 | | | | | | 894 | | |
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Adjusted EBITDAR
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| | | $ | 2,424 | | | | | $ | 8,969 | | |
| Operating statistics: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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Passengers (thousands)
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| | | | 45,679 | | | | | | 181,053 | | |
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Revenue passenger miles (millions)
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| | | | 68,246 | | | | | | 271,619 | | |
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Available seat miles (millions)
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| | | | 83,365 | | | | | | 330,284 | | |
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Passenger load factor
|
| | | | 81.9% | | | | | | 82.2% | | |
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Passenger revenue per available seat mile (cents)
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| | | | 16.71 | | | | | | 16.18 | | |
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Cost per available seat mile (cents)
|
| | | | 16.81 | | | | | | 16.46 | | |
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Cost per available seat mile (cents), excluding special charges,
third-party business expenses and profit sharing |
| | | | 12.94 | | | | | | 12.64 | | |
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At December 31, 2025
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Actual
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As adjusted
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(unaudited, in millions)
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| Cash, restricted cash and short-term investments: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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Unrestricted cash and cash equivalents
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| | | $ | 5,942 | | | | | $ | | | |
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Short-term investments
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| | | | 6,298 | | | | | | 6,298 | | |
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Restricted cash
|
| | | | 139 | | | | | | 139 | | |
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Total cash and short-term investments
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| | | $ | 12,379 | | | | | $ | | | |
| Capitalization: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Secured debt | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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4.375% SGR Senior Secured Notes due 2026
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| | | $ | 2,000 | | | | | $ | 2,000 | | |
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4.625% SGR Senior Secured Notes due 2029
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| | | | 2,000 | | | | | | 2,000 | | |
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SGR Term Loan due 2031
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| | | | 2,061 | | | | | | 2,061 | | |
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EETC Debt
|
| | | | 8,009 | | | | | | 8,009 | | |
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Bank Debt and Other Debt
|
| | | | 4,061 | | | | | | 4,061 | | |
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Finance leases
|
| | | | 474 | | | | | | 474 | | |
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Other financial liabilities
|
| | | | 3,248 | | | | | | 3,248 | | |
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Unamortized (discount) premium and deferred financing fees
|
| | | | (117) | | | | | | (117) | | |
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Total secured debt, finance leases and other financial liabilities(2)
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| | | $ | 21,736 | | | | | $ | 21,736 | | |
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Notes offered hereby
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| | | $ | — | | | | |
$
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1.000% PSP Notes due 2030 and 2031
|
| | | | 3,181 | | | | | | 3,181 | | |
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Other unsecured notes
|
| | | | 71 | | | | | | 71 | | |
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Total unsecured debt
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| | | $ | 3,252 | | | | | $ | | | |
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Total debt, finance leases and other financial liabilities
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| | | $ | 24,988 | | | | | $ | | | |
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Shareholders’ equity
|
| | | $ | 15,282 | | | | | $ | 15,282 | | |
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Total capitalization
|
| | | $ | 40,269 | | | | | $ | | | |
| | | |
Nine months ended
September 30, |
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Last twelve
months ended September 30, 2025 |
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Year ended
December 31, 2024 |
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| | | |
2025
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2024
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(unaudited, in millions)
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Net income
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| | | $ | 2,309 | | | | | $ | 2,164 | | | | | $ | 3,295 | | | | | $ | 3,149 | | |
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Adjusted EBITDA(1)
|
| | | | 5,890 | | | | | | 5,876 | | | | | | 8,229 | | | | | | 8,211 | | |
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Adjusted EBITDAR(1)
|
| | | | 6,545 | | | | | | 6,520 | | | | | | 9,095 | | | | | | 9,066 | | |
| | | |
Nine months ended
September 30, |
| |
Last twelve
months ended September 30, 2025 |
| |
Year ended
December 31, 2024 |
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| | | |
2025
|
| |
2024
|
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| | | |
(unaudited, in millions)
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| Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDAR Calculations | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
Net income
|
| | | $ | 2,309 | | | | | $ | 2,164 | | | | | $ | 3,295 | | | | | $ | 3,149 | | |
| Adjusted for: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
Depreciation and amortization
|
| | | | 2,191 | | | | | | 2,169 | | | | | | 2,950 | | | | | | 2,928 | | |
|
Interest expense, net of capitalized interest and interest income
|
| | | | 424 | | | | | | 532 | | | | | | 569 | | | | | | 676 | | |
|
Income tax expense
|
| | | | 672 | | | | | | 697 | | | | | | 994 | | | | | | 1,019 | | |
|
Special charges (credits)(A)
|
| | | | 266 | | | | | | 44 | | | | | | 335 | | | | | | 112 | | |
|
Nonoperating unrealized losses on investments, net(A)
|
| | | | 8 | | | | | | 160 | | | | | | 47 | | | | | | 199 | | |
|
Nonoperating debt extinguishment and modification fees(A)
|
| | | | 20 | | | | | | 110 | | | | | | 39 | | | | | | 128 | | |
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Adjusted EBITDA
|
| | | $ | 5,890 | | | | | $ | 5,876 | | | | | $ | 8,229 | | | | | $ | 8,211 | | |
|
Fixed portion of operating lease expense
|
| | | | 654 | | | | | | 644 | | | | | | 866 | | | | | | 855 | | |
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Adjusted EBITDAR(B)
|
| | | $ | 6,545 | | | | | $ | 6,520 | | | | | $ | 9,095 | | | | | $ | 9,066 | | |
| | | |
Nine months ended
September 30, |
| |
Last twelve
months ended September 30, 2025 |
| |
Year ended
December 31, 2024 |
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2025
|
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2024
|
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(unaudited, in millions)
|
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|
Special charges (credits) and unrealized losses on investments
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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Operating labor contract ratification bonuses
|
| | | $ | 561 | | | | | $ | — | | | | | $ | 561 | | | | | $ | — | | |
|
Operating (gains) losses on sale of assets and other special charges
|
| | | | (295) | | | | | | 44 | | | | | | (226) | | | | | | 112 | | |
|
Nonoperating unrealized losses on investments,
net |
| | | | 8 | | | | | | 160 | | | | | | 47 | | | | | | 199 | | |
|
Nonoperating debt extinguishment and modification
fees |
| | | | 20 | | | | | | 110 | | | | | | 39 | | | | | | 128 | | |
|
Total operating and nonoperating special charges (credits) and unrealized losses on investments,
net |
| | | $ | 295 | | | | | $ | 314 | | | | | $ | 421 | | | | | $ | 439 | | |
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Underwriters
|
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Principal
amount of notes |
| |||
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Barclays Capital Inc.
|
| | | $ | | | |
|
J.P. Morgan Securities LLC
|
| | | | | | |
|
Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
|
| | | | | | |
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Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC
|
| | | | | | |
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BofA Securities, Inc.
|
| | | | | | |
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BNP Paribas Securities Corp.
|
| | | | | | |
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Credit Agricole Securities (USA) Inc.
|
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Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.
|
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Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC
|
| | | | | | |
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Mizuho Securities USA LLC
|
| | | | | | |
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MUFG Securities Americas Inc.
|
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NatWest Markets Securities Inc.
|
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Natixis Securities Americas LLC
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SMBC Nikko Securities America, Inc.
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Loop Capital Markets LLC
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ING Financial Markets LLC
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Raymond James & Associates, Inc.
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Academy Securities, Inc.
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Blaylock Van, LLC
|
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Total
|
| | | $ | | | |
| | | |
Paid by UAL
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Per note
|
| | | | % | | |
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Total
|
| | | $ | | | |
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Combined filings by UAL and United
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Date filed
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Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024
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February 27, 2025
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Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2025
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April 16, 2025
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Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2025
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July 17, 2025
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Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2025
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October 16, 2025
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Current Report on Form 8-K
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July 9, 2025
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Filings by UAL only
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Date filed
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Current Report on Form 8-K
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January 17, 2025
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Current Report on Form 8-K
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May 28, 2025
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Current Report on Form 8-K/A
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May 28, 2025
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Preferred Stock
Debt Securities
Guarantees of Debt Securities
Depositary Shares
Stock Purchase Contracts
Stock Purchase Units
Subscription Rights
Warrants
Guarantees of Debt Securities
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Page
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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS
|
| | | | 1 | | |
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RISK FACTORS
|
| | | | 2 | | |
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CAUTIONARY STATEMENT CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
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| | | | 2 | | |
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THE COMPANY
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| | | | 4 | | |
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SELLING SECURITY HOLDERS
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| | | | 4 | | |
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USE OF PROCEEDS
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| | | | 4 | | |
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DESCRIPTION OF UAL CAPITAL STOCK
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| | | | 5 | | |
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DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES AND GUARANTEES
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| | | | 15 | | |
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DESCRIPTION OF DEPOSITARY SHARES
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| | | | 25 | | |
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DESCRIPTION OF STOCK PURCHASE CONTRACTS AND STOCK PURCHASE UNITS
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| | | | 28 | | |
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DESCRIPTION OF SUBSCRIPTION RIGHTS
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| | | | 29 | | |
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DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS
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| | | | 30 | | |
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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
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| | | | 31 | | |
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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
|
| | | | 33 | | |
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INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
|
| | | | 33 | | |
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LEGAL MATTERS
|
| | | | 34 | | |
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EXPERTS
|
| | | | 34 | | |
http://www.sec.gov.
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Combined Filings by UAL and United
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Date Filed
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Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 (including those portions of UAL’s Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed with the SEC on April 13, 2023 that are specifically incorporated by reference into such Annual Report on Form 10-K)......................................................................
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February 16, 2023
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Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2023................................................................
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April 20, 2023
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Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2023....................................................................
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July 20, 2023
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Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2023..........................................................
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October 18, 2023
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Current Report on Form 8-K...............................................
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May 31, 2023
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Current Report on Form 8-K...............................................
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June 20, 2023
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Current Report on Form 8-K (Item 5.02 only).....................
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September 22, 2023
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Current Report on Form 8-K (Item 1.01 only).....................
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October 4, 2023
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Registration Statement on Form 8-A, description of UAL’s Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share.......................
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September 5, 2018, including any amendments or reports filed to update such description
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Registration Statement on Form 8-A, description of UAL’s Preferred Stock Purchase Rights......................................
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December 7, 2020, including any amendments or reports filed to update such description
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Filings by UAL
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Date Filed
|
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| Current Report on Form 8-K | | |
January 27, 2023
|
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| Current Report on Form 8-K | | |
May 30, 2023
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Filings by United
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Date Filed
|
|
| Current Report on Form 8-K | | |
June 20, 2023
|
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| Current Report on Form 8-K | | |
June 21, 2023
|
|
United Airlines, Inc.
233 S. Wacker Drive
Chicago, Illinois 60606
(872) 825-4000
Attention: Corporate Secretary
FAQ
What is United Airlines Holdings (UAL) offering in this 424B3 filing?
United Airlines Holdings is offering senior unsecured notes due March 1, 2031, fully and unconditionally guaranteed by its main operating subsidiary, United Airlines, Inc.. These notes are a form of long-term debt that will pay fixed interest semiannually until maturity.
How and when will the new United Airlines notes pay interest?
The notes will bear a fixed annual interest rate on the principal amount, with interest payable semiannually in arrears on March 1 and September 1 of each year, beginning on September 1, 2026. Interest is calculated on a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.
How are the new UAL notes ranked relative to other company debt?
The notes and the related guarantee are senior unsecured obligations of United Airlines Holdings and United Airlines, Inc. They rank equally with all existing and future unsecured, unsubordinated debt, but are effectively junior to any secured debt to the extent of pledged collateral and structurally junior to obligations of non-guarantor subsidiaries.
What protections do noteholders have in a change of control at UAL?
If a defined Change of Control Triggering Event occurs, United must offer to repurchase the notes at 101% of principal plus accrued and unpaid interest. The filing also notes risks that some highly leveraged or restructuring transactions might not qualify as a Change of Control Triggering Event.
What does United Airlines plan to do with the proceeds from this notes offering?
United estimates that net proceeds, after underwriting discounts, commissions, and expenses, will be used to pay fees and expenses related to the offering and for general corporate purposes. The filing does not tie proceeds to a single specific project.
What recent financial performance does United Airlines highlight in this prospectus supplement?
For the fourth quarter of 2025, United reports preliminary net income of $1,044 million. For the full year 2025, preliminary net income is $3,353 million, Adjusted EBITDA is $8,076 million, and Adjusted EBITDAR is $8,969 million, with a passenger load factor of 82.2%.
What are key risks mentioned for investors in these UAL notes?
Key risks include that the notes are unsecured and effectively subordinated to secured and subsidiary debt, potential difficulty repaying or repurchasing the notes at maturity or after a Change of Control Triggering Event, lack of a guaranteed trading market, and possible credit rating downgrades that could hurt liquidity and the notes’ market value.