Mikells explained at the Reuters Travel and Leisure Summit that there is insufficient data to suggest how the present recovery in business travel demand is different from previous recessions.The airline industry has been affected in the last year by a recession that eroded travel demand and hindered carriers' ability to increase fares.

But Mikells also added that the airline industry has obtained some pricing power due to industry wide capacity cuts in 2008 and 2009 and is on the edge of raising fares, despite unsuccessful attempts earlier this year to raise ticket prices.She said at the moment UAL has no plans to reintroduce capacity into the system .