United Airlines saw annual pre-tax profits rise by almost a quarter to $4.2 billion in 2024.
The year-on-year increase of 23% came as the US carrier broke records for the most flights and passenger carryings in its history.
Looking ahead, United sees “robust demand trends” in the first quarter of this year.
This followed capacity rising by 6.2% in the final quarter of 2024 and a 7.8% increase in revenue to $14.7 billion. Total revenue for the year was up 6.2% to more than $57 billion over 2023.
United recorded its busiest three days in company history based on passengers carried in December.
Almost 174 million passengers were carried in 2024 as the carrier operated an average of 4,340 daily flights, 145 more per day compared to the previous 12 months.
United said it flew the largest international schedule of any US carrier by available seat miles – 35% larger than its next rival – with nearly 700 international flights a day to 133 destinations across 67 countries. This included its largest schedule to Europe.
The airline is to embark on its largest international expansion this summer with nine new destinations including Nuuk in Greenland, Palermo, Bilbao, Faro, Madeira and Dakar, Senegal.
United expects to serve more international destinations across the Atlantic and Pacific than all other US carriers combined in 2025, with 800 daily flights to and from 147 international destinations, including nearly 40 not served by any other US airline.
Chief executive Scott Kirby said: ”United had a unique strategy coming out of Covid and our people have delivered for customers leading to a structurally and permanently changed industry.
“2024 was a strong year across the board for United as we’ve become the leading global airline and we enter 2025 with demand trends continuing to accelerate which puts us on the path to double-digit pre-tax margins.”