United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby said on Wednesday at the BERSTEIN investor
conference that with oil prices retreating and demand proving resilient, the
carrier is gradually recouping the hit from elevated fuel costs and he is
increasingly confident United can achieve double-digit pre-tax margins next
year. Kirby said the airline had been on track to post double-digit margins this
year before the Iran situation pushed fuel prices higher. He added that lower
oil prices have reduced the revenue threshold needed to fully offset the
fuel-cost shock and that the process of reaching 100% recovery is likely
progressing.
