American Airlines reported its highest third-quarter revenues on Thursday, but soaring fuel costs put a damper on the carrier’s otherwise strong earnings.
The Fort Worth-based airline inked a total revenue of $16.3 billion for Q3 2026. That’s a 19.3% jump compared to the same period last year.
However, American also estimated bigger losses for its total 2026 earnings, forecasting a loss of $1 and $1.60 per share. Those losses are nearly double what it forecast in the second quarter of the year, when it predicted an annual loss of $0.65 cents per share.
The adjusted annual earnings come as fuel costs are adding historic pressure to carriers’ bottom lines around the world.
United, Delta, and Alaska Air Group also have been reducing their 2026 earnings guidance throughout October, due to the cost of fuel.
For its part, American estimated that higher fuel prices could add about $1 billion to its costs in the fourth quarter alone.
Looking ahead to 2027, the carrier also noted that it planned to slow its route network growth next year compared to its expansion levels in 2026.
“While historically high fuel prices significantly impacted our financial results, our focus remains on restoring profitability and building a stronger American for the long term,” said American’s CEO Robert Isom. “I’m grateful to the American Airlines team for making this progress possible.”
There were a few notable bright spots in the earnings report, including a jump in premium revenue, which increased 22% year over year. Revenue for the economy segment was also 19.5% higher than the same quarter in 2025.
“American delivered record third-quarter revenue and the strongest year-over-year revenue growth in my career, with premium performance leading the way,” Isom said. "The investments we are making across the four pillars of our commercial strategy are working, and we expect another quarter of record revenue growth to close out the year.”
The carrier has been focusing on a premium push throughout 2026 to roll out new premium seats on its planes, as well as new lounges and other ground services to enhance the customer experience.
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