News Summary: United Continental 3Q earnings

DESCENDING: Traffic (1.5 percent). Revenue (2.6 percent.) Net income (99 percent).

HOW COME? United says it is running a reliable operation now, and that its problems are behind it. And much of the profit drop-off was because of an accounting charge.

FEWER SEATS, MORE DOUGH: United Continental Holdings Inc. will reduce flying 1 percent next year as it tries to minimize the number of empty seats, so it can charge more for the seats that remain.