Other

Pension and postretirement benefit liability

United Airlines Holdings Pension and postretirement benefit liability increased by 1.8% to $1.08B in Q1 2026 compared to the prior quarter. Year-over-year, this metric declined by 14.0%, from $1.25B to $1.08B. Over 2 years (FY 2023 to FY 2025), Pension and postretirement benefit liability shows a downward trend with a -18.8% CAGR. This increase may warrant attention — for this metric, lower values are generally preferred.

Analysis

StatementBalance Sheet Statement
SectionOther
CategoryRisk
SignalLower is better
VolatilityModerate
First reportedQ4 2023
Last reportedQ1 2026

How to read this metric

A decrease is generally positive, indicating better funding status or reduced benefit obligations, while an increase may signal rising long-term financial pressure.

Detailed definition

This represents the net liability for defined benefit pension plans and other post-employment benefits provided to emplo...

Peer comparison

Legacy carriers often have larger pension liabilities compared to newer entrants; investors monitor the funding ratio relative to peers.

Metric ID: other_pension_and_other_postretirement_and_postemploymen_25f251

Historical Data

7 periods
 Q4 '23Q4 '24Q1 '25Q2 '25Q3 '25Q4 '25Q1 '26
Value$1.61B$1.23B$1.25B$1.20B$974.00M$1.06B$1.08B
QoQ Change-23.2%+1.5%-4.2%-18.8%+8.6%+1.8%
YoY Change-23.2%-14.2%-14.0%
Range$974.00M$1.61B
CAGR-23.4%
Avg YoY Growth-17.1%
Median YoY Growth-14.2%
Current Streak2 quarters growth

Frequently Asked Questions

What is United Airlines Holdings's pension and postretirement benefit liability?
United Airlines Holdings (UAL) reported pension and postretirement benefit liability of $1.08B in Q1 2026.
How has United Airlines Holdings's pension and postretirement benefit liability changed year-over-year?
United Airlines Holdings's pension and postretirement benefit liability decreased by 14.0% year-over-year, from $1.25B to $1.08B.
What is the long-term trend for United Airlines Holdings's pension and postretirement benefit liability?
Over 2 years (2023 to 2025), United Airlines Holdings's pension and postretirement benefit liability has grown at a -18.8% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), from $1.61B to $1.06B.
What does pension and postretirement benefit liability mean?
The net amount the company owes for employee pension and retirement benefits beyond what is currently funded.