Letter from the President and CEO

August 3, 2012

At United, we are committed to building a sustainable future for our customers, our co-workers, our investors and the environment. Our more than 85,000 co-workers operate the most extensive route network of any airline in the world. Every day, with our partners at United Express, we operate an average of more than 5,500 flights to 377 airports on six continents. Airlines are not only powerful economic engines for the communities they serve, but they also connect cultures and ideas. We’re proud of what we do and the value that we provide to society.

To build a sustainable future for all our constituents, we will focus on achieving sufficient and sustained profitability so that we can continue to deliver a critical service that drives significant economic value across the globe. While we work to achieve that profitability, we will also take actions to reduce our impact on the environment and to be a responsible global citizen.

Since 2010, United has been a participant in the United Nations Global Compact http://www.unglobalcompact.org/, which outlines key principles of environmental and social responsibility for businesses around the world. We are proud to be the only U.S. airline participating in the Compact.

Through United’s Eco-Skies^® program, we seek to deliver an excellent product to our customers in an environmentally responsible manner. We have improved our fuel efficiency by more than 32% since 1994 and we will continue to improve fuel efficiency as we acquire newer, more efficient aircraft, like the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, the Airbus 350 XWB and the Boeing 737 MAX. Through such efforts, we continue to maintain a leading, fuel-efficient fleet among U.S. network carriers. We have also helped to advance the use of alternative fuels and we have a comprehensive recycling program both onboard and at our hubs.

In addition, throughout our hubs and the cities where we operate, we are committed to supporting diverse programs and organizations that benefit our people and our communities. We donate air travel and money, and volunteer time, to support organizations that address important needs of our communities. We have longstanding partnerships with the March of Dimes, the American Cancer Society and many other organizations.

We’re also committed to building a sustainable future for those at the heart of our business: our co-workers. We are building a Working Together culture where our co-workers enjoy coming to work, trust each other and trust management, and feel supported and respected.

To learn more about the great work my co-workers are doing, please read our Corporate Responsibility Report. We are proud of United’s commitment to running an environmentally and socially responsible airline. We have the best team in the business and we’re dedicated to building a bright and sustainable future.

Jeff Smisek
CEO, United Airlines