College Sports

United Sets Course To Be Best Airline For Employees, Customers, and Investors

Published

10 years ago

November 15, 2016

CHICAGO, (FNN NEWS) By United Airlines — United Airlines will present to its investors today plans for long-term earnings growth through a number of strategic initiatives across the airline. These initiatives include improving network connectivity and revenue management, broadening product segmentation and introducing additional customer enhancements. Along with maintaining disciplined cost control, this strategy is expected to generate $4.8 billion in earnings improvement by 2020.

“As we approach the new year, our operations are running well, our employees are more energized than ever, and we are ready to unlock United’s full potential,” said Oscar Munoz, chief executive officer. “Today, we are talking about what’s next for United. We now have the strategy and organization in place to be the best airline in the world – for employees, customers and investors.”

More Choice for Customers

To further meet customers’ needs and provide more options to price-sensitive travelers, the company announced the introduction of Basic Economy fares. This new offering provides customers the option of paying the lowest fares to their destinations, while still receiving the same standard economy experience, including food, beverage, Wi-Fi and personal device entertainment, with a few key differences. Customers who choose Basic Economy will be assigned seats on the day of departure, be assigned to boarding group five and be permitted only one personal carry-on item that must fit under the seat. The new offering provides the added benefit for customers and employees of simplifying the boarding process, as fewer customers will bring overhead bags on board. Complete details on Basic Economy can be found at united.com/basiceconomy.

“Customers have told us that they want more choice and Basic Economy delivers just that,” said Julia Haywood, executive vice president and chief commercial officer. “By offering low fares while also offering the experience of traveling on our outstanding network, with a variety of onboard amenities and great customer service, we are giving our customers an additional travel option from what United offers today.”

In addition to Basic Economy, United will continue to offer economy, Economy Plus and domestic first class, and it remains on track to introduce its reimagined international premium travel experience, United Polaris, on December 1. The company is evaluating a new premium economy experience for domestic and international markets.

Optimize Network and Revenue Management

The company also announced its plans to fully optimize its network potential by continuing to leverage its leading international position while strengthening its domestic network, including improving the bank structures at key hubs in Chicago, Houston, and Newark/New York, and further improving both schedules and product in top business markets.

In addition, United is improving its revenue management system to more accurately forecast demand to better maximize profitability on each flight. The company expects these system improvements to drive $900 million of incremental revenue by 2019.

“We have the best people and network, with ever-improving products, and importantly have the most opportunity to improve our margins among our industry peers,” said Scott Kirby, president. “As we strengthen both our domestic and international networks, we will ensure we are offering our customers the right flights to the right destinations at the right time.”

Adjusting Aircraft Order Book

The company announced a modification to its narrowbody order book. The company is converting its original order for 65 737-700 aircraft into 4 737-800 aircraft to be delivered in 2017 while the remaining 61 will be converted into orders for 737 MAX aircraft, with delivery dates to be determined. These changes will allow United to take advantage of the superior fuel efficiency of the MAX aircraft while also reducing capital expenditures by approximately $1.6 billion through 2018.

In addition, the company has agreed to purchase 24 Embraer 175 aircraft from Embraer, instead of leasing these aircraft through a capacity purchase agreement as was originally planned. These aircraft will be leased to third party carriers operating as United Express.

“The realignment of our order book shifts our focus to ensuring our capital investments support earnings growth. We will continue to look at profitable opportunities in the new and used aircraft market to generate the highest ROIC,” said Andrew Levy, executive vice president and chief financial officer. “We have made important investments in our people and product this year, and will continue to make investments in the business to ensure increased profitability while maintaining a strong balance sheet.”

Continued Strong Cost Control

The company will continue its rigorous cost management program and expects 2017 unit costs to grow 3.5% to 4.5% excluding fuel. The company expects 2018-2020 unit costs excluding fuel to grow less than 1% per year due in part to its plan to remove $700 millionof costs by 2020, as compared to 2015 levels.

Building on Current Success

United has made significant progress in operational reliability, with an improvement of nearly 10 percentage points year-to-date in on-time departures. The company plans to further improve performance with a specific focus on decreasing the time it takes to turn narrowbody aircraft, continuing to reduce long delays and cancellations, and executing on previously announced fleet reliability measures.

The company also is accelerating its mobile strategy, including next steps for its award-winning mobile app, which has more than 14 million downloads, expanding the types of transactions customers can make throughout their journey, including managing documentation for international travel and expanded rebooking options. In addition, the company made further progress this year in providing mobile tools to the majority of its operational employees.

United currently has ratified agreements for all of its employee groups, with the exception of its technicians, who are represented by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. The technicians are expected to vote on their contract before the end of the year.

Basketball

USF Women’s Basketball Opens Season With 80–54 Victory Over Furman

Published

6 days ago

November 5, 2026

NISEY LOU S.

TAMPA, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) — On Monday November 2, at the Yuengling Center, the South Florida women’s basketball team opened with a successful debut undernew head coach Kristy Curry.

The Bulls established control early with a 9–0 opening run, taking a 27–12 lead after the first quarter. Furman narrowed the margin before halftime, but South Florida maintained a 46–32 advantage heading into the break.

A dominant third quarter proved decisive, as USF outscored Furman 23–9 to extend its lead to 69–41 entering the fourth.

Balanced Scoring Leads the Bulls

Stefanie Ingram led South Florida with 15 points, followed by Hannah Kohn with 13 and Kendall Puryear with 12 points and nine rebounds.

The Bulls placed six players in double figures, shot 51.6 percent from the field and controlled the boards with a 48–25 rebounding advantage.

A Winning Debut for Kristy Curry

The victory marked Curry’s first win leading South Florida after arriving from Alabama.

Ahead of the season opener, Curry expressed confidence in the program’s potential:

“I’m so excited to be here. I truly think the sky’s the limit at USF.”

— Kristy Curry, USF Head Coach, in pregame remarks published by USF Athletics.

South Florida (1–0) will face Belmont on Friday, November 6, in Nashville, Tennessee.

– Nisey Spruill is a reporter and photojournalist for Florida National News (FNN), covering major news, sports and special events across Florida and nationwide. Contact sports@FloridaNationalNews.com

Basketball

USF Men’s Basketball Opens Chris Mack Era With 98–71 Win Over Charleston Southern

Published

6 days ago

November 5, 2026

NISEY LOU S.

USF guard Andrew Shoshkikj charges towards basket against Charleston, Southern Buccaneers defender Photo Credit Nisey Spruill / Florida National News

TAMPA, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) — The University of South Florida men’s basketball team opened its 2026–27 season with a 98–71 victory over Charleston Southern on Monday, November 2, at the Yuengling Center, securing new head coach Chris Mack’s first win with the Bulls.

South Florida faced early resistance from the Buccaneers but closed the first half with a 7–2 run, taking a 43–33 lead into halftime.

The turning point came in the second half, when Chris Davis Jr. connected on consecutive three-pointers to help the Bulls extend their advantage. USF scored 55 second-half points while shooting 60 percent from the field to secure the win.

A South Florida Bulls Chris Davis Jr. (#4) protects the basketball while looking for an opening against Charleston Southern’s defense during the 2026–27 men’s basketball season opener at the Yuengling Center in Tampa, Florida, on November 2, 2026. Photo Credit: Nisey Spruill/ Florida National News

High Leads South Florida’s Offense

Zayden High led the Bulls with a career-high 20 points and eight rebounds, while Sonny Wilson added 19 points and six assists. Chris Davis Jr. contributed 15 points, and Mike James finished with 14.

South Florida placed five players in double figures and recorded 13 steals while limiting Charleston Southern to 21.7 percent shooting from three-point range.

Charleston Southern’s No. 0 attempts a contested shot between South Florida forward Zayden High near the basket during the men’s basketball season opener at the Yuengling Center in Tampa, Florida, on November 2, 2026. Photo Credit: Nisey Spruill / Florida National News

A New Chapter Under Chris Mack

The victory marked the beginning of Mack’s tenure at South Florida following the program’s American Conference championship season.

Ahead of his debut, Mack outlined the expectations surrounding the Bulls:
“This program now has championship expectations and we have everything in place to be successful.”
— Chris Mack, USF Head Coach, in pregame remarks published by USF Athletics.

South Florida (1–0) will travel to Chicago to face DePaul on Thursday, November 5, for its first road matchup of the season.

Central Florida News

USF Defeats UAB 30–10, Secures Fourth Consecutive Bowl-Eligible Season

Published

1 week ago

November 3, 2026

NISEY LOU S.

C.J. Hicks (#1) USF defensive end lines up before the snap during the Bulls’ 30–10 victory over UAB at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa on October 31, 2026. Photo by Nisey Spruill / Florida National News

Bulls overcome early deficit behind defensive touchdowns and a record-tying performance from C.J. Hicks.

TAMPA, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) — The University of South Florida (USF) secured its sixth victory of the season Saturday, October 31, defeating the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) 30–10 at Raymond James Stadium. The victory improved the Bulls’ record to 6–2 overall and 2–2 in American Conference play, making the program bowl-eligible for the fourth consecutive season.

Defense Turns the Game Around

UAB opened the game with a 10–0 first-quarter lead, but South Florida responded with 30 unanswered points, highlighted by two defensive touchdowns.

Defensive end C.J. Hicks delivered one of the game’s most significant performances, recording four sacks to tie the USF single-game record. Two of those sacks forced fumbles that resulted in touchdowns.

Late in the second quarter, Hicks forced a fumble by UAB quarterback Ryder Burton, allowing USF defender Asani Redwood to recover the football and return it six yards for a touchdown. The play gave South Florida a 17–10 halftime lead.

Asani Redwood and UAB #71 UAB defensive lineman #71 attempts to tackle USF’s Asani Redwood during the October 31, 2026, matchup at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa. Photo by Nisey Spruill / Florida National News

Hicks created another scoring opportunity in the fourth quarter, forcing a second fumble that linebacker Grayson Howard recovered and returned 13 yards for a touchdown, extending USF’s lead to 27–10.

South Florida’s defense finished with six sacks and 11 tackles for loss, limiting UAB to just 177 total offensive yards, including 17 rushing yards.

Offensive Adjustments Provide Momentum

Following an injury to starting quarterback Michael Van Buren Jr., sophomore Luke Kromenhoek entered the game and helped shift momentum in South Florida’s favor.

Luke Kromenhoek (#17) USF quarterback Luke Kromenhoek (#17) carries the football while facing pressure from a UAB defender during the Bulls’ 30–10 victory at Raymond James Stadium on October 31, 2026. Photo by Nisey Spruill / Florida National News

Kromenhoek finished with a career-high 92 rushing yards, including a 42-yard run that helped establish the Bulls’ offensive rhythm.

Running back Jason Collins Jr. added a six-yard rushing touchdown late in the second quarter to tie the game at 10–10.

Kicker Nico Gramatica contributed three field goals, connecting from 31, 30 and 33 yards to help secure the victory.

Bowl Eligibility Marks Another Program Milestone

With its sixth win, South Florida secured bowl eligibility for the fourth consecutive season, matching the second-longest such streak in program history.

The accomplishment allows USF to qualify for postseason bowl consideration, although an official bowl invitation and destination have yet to be determined.

The victory also kept the Bulls competitive in the American Conference standings, with four regular-season games remaining following the UAB matchup.

Looking Ahead

USF will return to conference competition Friday, November 6, traveling to face East Carolina as the Bulls continue their pursuit of a stronger conference finish and a postseason bowl invitation.

Final Score: USF 30, UAB 10