United Airlines reported a steep quarterly loss Tuesday but gave investors several reasons to cheer, detailing moves to cut an additional 4,550 jobs and beef up its cash balance by $1.2 billion.

The carrier’s efforts to help reverse its deteriorating financial situation and offset brutal fuel costs sent its shares soaring 69 percent, or $3.42, to close at $8.41.

“Now, more so than ever before, it is important that we think differently...and take aggressive actions to offset these unprecedented fuel prices and strengthen our competitiveness,” Glenn Tilton, United’s chief executive officer, said in a recorded message to employees.

United previously announced moves to eliminate roughly 2,450 positions through furloughs, layoffs and attrition. On Tuesday, the carrier said it will boost that number to 7,000 jobs by the end of next year, representing about 13 percent of its work force.

It’s unclear how the additional cuts will affect Denver, which is United’s second-largest hub. A 13 percent cut of its local work force would amount to about 700 jobs. The carrier, though, said it has not yet determined which positions will be eliminated, so the proportion could be smaller or larger in Denver than the average.

The carrier already axed about 150 local positions this month and plans to cut 17 pilot jobs here this fall as part of the previously announced cuts. United, which employed 5,400 workers here before those reductions, also has revealed plans to scrap several dozen departures at Denver International Airport this fall. The company is shedding 100 planes and ending service on many routes as it looks to shrink domestic capacity by as much as 16 percent this year.

“When you take flights and seats out of the system, you’ve got to take people out,” said Jon Ash, president of Washington-based consulting firm InterVistas-GA2.

For the second quarter, which ended June 30, United reported a $2.73 billion loss, or $21.47 per share. That compares with a quarterly profit of $274 million, or $1.83 a share, during the same time last year. Revenue rose 3 percent to $5.37 billion, from $5.21 billion a year ago.

The deficit isn’t nearly as bad as it appears, and it it beat analyst estimates. Most of the loss is tied to accounting charges of about $2.6 billion, which doesn’t effect United’s cash balance. Excluding those charges, United said it lost $151 million, or $1.19 a share, during the quarter.

Still, the second quarter is typically one of the strongest for the industry. The fact United and most other carriers are reporting losses — US Airways and JetBlue also did so on Tuesday — could signal a brutal fall and winter season, which historically are the toughest times for airlines.

To help weather the storm, United modified and extended its credit card agreements with Chase Bank. The carrier will receive a $600 million infusion from the sale of frequent-flier miles to Chase for distribution to credit-card holders. United also will be able to tap about $350 million in previously restricted cash, and the deal will improve its cash flow by $200 million in two years.

United ended the quarter with $2.9 billion in cash, not counting money pledged in loans or as collateral on fuel hedges. The carrier said it has another $3 billion worth of assets it can borrow against.