American Airlines Q3 adjusted loss per share less than expected; sees Q4 fuel prices nearly double year over year
AAL•American Airlines reported Q3 revenue of $16.34 billion and an adjusted loss of $0.28 per share, beating analyst estimates. It expects Q4 fuel to average about $4.70 per gallon, nearly double the year-earlier price, and forecasts a Q4 adjusted loss of $1.10 to $0.50 per share.
1. Q3 results
American Airlines reported Q3 revenue of $16.34 billion, up 19.3% year over year and slightly above the $16.22 billion analyst estimate. Its adjusted loss was $0.28 per share, better than the $0.35-per-share estimate; its reported loss was $0.41 per share.
2. Fuel costs
Results were pressured by a $1.9 billion year-over-year increase in fuel expense. The company said premium revenue growth outpaced Main Cabin, and attributed strong unit revenue growth to travel demand across geographies, increased AAdvantage enrollments and strong managed corporate revenue.
3. Q4 outlook
American Airlines expects Q4 revenue to rise 19.5% to 22.5% year over year and forecasts an adjusted loss of $1.10 to $0.50 per share. It forecasts a full-year 2026 adjusted loss of $1.60 to $1.00 per share and expects Q4 fuel to average approximately $4.70 per gallon, nearly double the price paid in Q4 2025.
