American Airlines Group reported record third-quarter revenue of 16.3 billion USD for 2026, up 19.3% year on year, despite a 1.9 billion USD increase in fuel expenses.
American Airlines recorded an adjusted net loss of 182 million USD in the third quarter of 2026, which is 71 million USD more than the same period last year, attributed to fuel expenses. The airline paid an average of 3.85 USD per gallon of fuel, representing a 67.5% increase in fuel expenditure compared with the same period in 2025.
Revenue growth was supported by demand across domestic and international markets, as well as continued growth in premium travel. Premium revenue increased 22.9% year on year, while Main Cabin revenue rose 19.5%. International passenger unit revenue grew 16.4%, led by a 21.1% increase in Latin America.
American is continuing to invest in its fleet and onboard services. On 8 October, it announced plans to expand Starlink high-speed Wi-Fi installation across its entire mainline fleet, covering more than 1,000 aircraft. The airline is also expanding seatback entertainment to narrowbody aircraft, with screens planned for new deliveries from 2028.
The carrier expects to achieve nearly 1 billion USD in annual run-rate savings by the end of 2026 through operational reengineering, alongside more than 900 million USD in working capital improvements.
Looking ahead, American forecasts fourth-quarter revenue growth of 19.5% to 22.5% year on year. However, it expects fuel prices to average approximately 4.70 USD per gallon, nearly double the price paid in the fourth quarter of 2025. Fuel expenses are consequently forecast to rise by around 2.8 billion USD year on year.
The airline expects network growth in 2027 to slow compared with 2026 as it responds to elevated fuel costs.
