United Continental cuts outlook on Harvey impact, fuel costs

DALLAS (AP) — United Airlines said Wednesday that Hurricane Harvey and a fare war contributed to a loss of $400 million in expected revenue, and the storm saddled the company with higher prices for jet fuel.

The company said that a key revenue-per-seat figure would fall by up to 5 percent for the third quarter. Shares of United Continental Holdings Inc. slipped in afternoon trading.

Southwest Airlines Co. said Harvey shaved up to $60 million from its revenue, and it too slightly lowered expectations for the quarter that ends Sept. 30.

Harvey — and now Hurricane Irma spinning through the Caribbean — are back-to-back setbacks for airlines that were already dealing with lower average ticket prices. In the last two days, Delta Air Lines Inc.