United Airlines Cuts Capacity Forecast, Flags Cost Pressure on Omicron Turmoil

United Airlines Cuts Capacity Forecast, Flags Cost Pressure on Omicron Turmoil
United Airlines planes are parked at their gates at O'Hare International Airport ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday in Chicago, Ill., on Nov. 20, 2021. Brendan McDermid/Reuters
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CHICAGO—United Airlines Holdings on Wednesday trimmed its capacity forecast and warned of higher costs, after posting a smaller-than-expected fourth-quarter loss, citing turbulence from the Omicron coronavirus variant.

The Chicago-based carrier said the latest wave of the health crisis has depressed near-term demand even as bookings for the spring and beyond remain strong.