United Airlines’ parent posts loss

United Airlines’ parent company posted a bigger-than-expected $152-million loss for the first quarter, pressured by the reduced domestic passenger demand that has slowed results for U.S. carriers.

UAL Corp. said it added too many flights in January during a slow travel season and was hurt by the storms that crippled flying schedules in February. Its executives said they might reduce U.S. capacity this year.

First-quarter revenue was $4.4 billion, down 2% from $4.5 billion a year earlier.

It was Elk Grove Township, Ill.-based UAL’s second quarterly deficit in a row, a year after its emergence from bankruptcy protection, and investors and analysts showed their disappointment despite its improvement from last year’s first-quarter loss of $223 million, excluding certain items.

UAL shares, already down 12% in the last week on signs of weaker domestic results, fell 88 cents to $38.28.