UAL reports $191 million January operating loss = = = = Thursday February 26, 1:46 PM EST = (Adds CFO comment, other details) CHICAGO, Feb 26 (Reuters) - United Airlines parent UAL Corp. (UALAQ) on T= hursday reported an operating loss of $191 million for the month of Janua= ry. Elk Grove, Illinois-based United, the world's second-biggest airline, fil= ed the largest bankruptcy in aviation history in December 2002, and hopes= to emerge from court protection around the middle of this year. UAL said its net loss for January, including $26 million in reorganizatio= n expenses, was $252 million. It ended the quarter with $2.2 billion in c= ash, of which $650 million was restricted for existing obligations. The cash balance was down $131 million from December, the carrier said, a= dding that it met special bankruptcy financing requirements for the 12th = consecutive month. = The change in the cash balance included a retroactive, $63 million quarte= rly wage payment to the International Association of Machinists. The airl= ine reports the monthly statistics as a result of its Chapter 11 bankrupt= cy case. "Our financial results show progress compared to January a year ago, and = United continued to outpace our competitors in passenger unit revenue imp= rovement, despite the seasonally weak demand across the industry, which w= e expect to continue in February as well," said Chief Financial Officer J= ake Brace in a statement. Mainline unit revenue, which represents the amount of revenue taken in pe= r available seat mile, rose 8 percent year-over-year, United said, above = the industry average. A similar cost measure excluding special charges and fuel improved 14 per= cent, the company said. = =A92003 Reuters Limited. = Roger EWROPS