United Airlines slashes 2026 profit outlook on fuel prices, but travelers keep booking despite higher fares

United Airlines is slashing its profit forecast for the year as fuel costs continue to bite, but the carrier said passengers keep booking. United said Tuesday that it expects to earn between 50 cents and $1.50 a share on an adjusted basis in the fourth quarter, well below the $1.76 a share Wall Street analysts expected. At the high end of that range, it would bring United's 2026 adjusted earnings to no more than $7.22 per share. In mid-July, United said it was expecting full-year earnings of $9 to $11 a share. The carrier expects to pay an average of $4.80 a gallon for fuel in the fourth quarter, up from an average price of $3.90 a gallon in the third.