United Continental Holdings, Inc. re-affirms consolidated earnings guidance for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2015; reported consolidated traffic results for the month and year to date ended December 205. For the quarter, in the fourth quarter of 2015, better-than-expected completion factor resulted in consolidated capacity that was in the higher end of the Company's original guidance range provided on October 22, 2015. The company now expects fourth-quarter 2015 passenger revenue to decline between 5.75% and 6.25% year-over-year. The year-over-year performance was primarily impacted by a strong U.S. dollar, lower surcharges, travel reductions from energy dependent corporate customers and a softening in domestic yields. In addition, the revised guidance is lower than original expectations due to the impact of the Paris terror attacks, fuel price decline within the quarter affecting the Company's Houston hub and corporate energy business, higher capacity driven by improved completion rates and softer demand as demonstrated by the downward revisions to GDP in the fourth quarter. Fourth-quarter 2015 capital expenditures are higher than previous guidance. This is largely the result of the Company's decision to shift certain aircraft-related payments from the first quarter of 2016 into the fourth quarter of 2015, which were not included in previous guidance. Total consolidated available seat miles to be 61,305 million. Total consolidated revenue passenger mile to be 50,718 million. Total consolidated load factor to be 82.7%.

For the year 2015, the company will pay approximately 9.7% of total adjusted earnings as profit sharing to employees for adjusted earnings up to a 6.9% adjusted pre-tax margin and approximately 15.0% for any adjusted earnings above that amount. Adjusted earnings for the purposes of profit sharing are calculated as GAAP pre-tax earnings, excluding special items, profit sharing expense and share-based compensation program expense. Share-based compensation expense for the purposes of the profit sharing calculation is estimated to be $58 million for full-year 2015. Total consolidated available seat miles to be 250,004 million. Total consolidated revenue passenger mile to be 208,611 million. Total consolidated load factor to be 83.4%.

For the month, the company reported revenue passenger miles of 17,148,875,000 against 16,889,108,000 a year ago. Available seat miles were 20,654,783,000 against 20,216,623,000 a year ago. Passenger load factor was 83.0% against 83.5% a year ago. Onboard passengers were 11,603,000 against 11,326,000 a year ago. Cargo revenue ton miles were 223,908,000 against 224,393,000 a year ago.

For the year to date, the company reported revenue passenger miles of 208,611,208,000 against 205,559,215,000 a year ago. Available seat miles were 250,003,434,000 against 246,020,599,000 a year ago. Passenger load factor was 83.4% against 83.6% a year ago. Onboard passengers were 140,369,000 against 138,029,000 a year ago. Cargo revenue ton miles were 2,614,125,000 against 2,486,785,000 a year ago.