United Continental Holdings posted a third-quarter net profit excluding special items of $520 million.

Inclusive of all items, the company eked out a $6 million profit, down from $653 million a year earlier. United was the only one of the seven major U.S. carriers to report lower passenger revenue and passenger unit revenue, down 2.6 percent and 1.3 percent respectively. Its third-quarter passenger yield also was down, dropping 1.2 percent year over year.