FILE - In this Oct. 15, 2020, file photo, a United Airlines airplane takes off over another United plane on the runway at San Francisco International Airport in San Francisco.
United lost $7.1 billion in 2020, an amount exceeded only in 2005, when bankruptcy-related costs pushed the company to a $21 billion loss.
That was worse than the $6.62 per share loss predicted, on average, by 19 analysts in a FactSet survey.
Revenue tumbled to $3.41 billion, nearly matching the $3.42 billion that was forecast by analysts.
Shares of United Airlines Holdings Inc. rose 1% to $45.18 in regular trading before the financial results were released.